Fibromyalgia afflicts approximately 5% of the population. The majority of these are women. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome. The most common Fibromyalgia symptoms and diagnostic tool are the widespread pain. The pain associated with fibromyalgia can range in intensity from mild to severe. The severe end of the spectrum can be debilitating and disabling. In its milder forms, fibromyalgia is similar to the flu. The muscles and other soft tissues of the body just ache constantly.
Besides widespread pain, fibromyalgia has other symptoms associated with it also. The other main symptom is fatigue. Remember how you felt the last time you had the flu or a severe cold. Fibromyalgics experience that run down, tired feeling the majority of the time. The fatigue is usually caused by the lack of deep sleep. Deep sleep is when the body restores itself. Constant sleep disturbances from widespread pain does not allow for those afflicted with fibromyalgia to enter into deep sleep. Thus, even after sleeping for ten to twelve hours, a fibromyalgic does not feel refreshed.
Another common symptom of fibromyalgia is chronic headaches. Fibromyalgia headaches come in three forms – tension headaches, migraines or combination headaches. Tension headaches are caused by muscle contractions in the neck, shoulders and jaw. The continuous contractions cause the muscles to tense and eventually lead to a headache beginning at the base of the skull and spreading towards the temples. Migraines are caused by the constriction and dilation of the blood vessels in the brain. Similar to the muscle contractions, the blood vessels constrict slowing circulation in the brain and then suddenly dilate causing extreme pain.
A less common, but extremely frightening symptom of fibromyalgia is called costochondritis. Costochondritis is the inflammation of the seven bits of cartilage between the sternum and the rib cage. This inflammation is often accompanied by sharp chest pains that mimic cardiac problems such as a heart attack or stroke. The pain can cause anxiety which contributes to the fear of a heart attack.
However, it can be a frightening symptom since the pain associated with costochondritis is similar to that of a heart attack or stroke.
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