Overview of Fibromyalgia

If you feel exhausted frequently and usually hurt all over without any apparent reason, you might be suffering from fibromyalgia. It is a chronic condition that causes pain in ligaments, muscles and tendons. Fibromyalgia is more common among women than men and intensity of symptoms may vary but never completely disappear.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Depending on various factors such as stress, weather, time of the day and your physical activity, the symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary. Some of the most common symptoms are widespread pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue, facial pain, headaches and heightened sensitivity. Sensitivity to noises, touch, bright lights and odours is common to people having fibromyalgia. Pain due to fibromyalgia is felt when a pressure in applied to any part of the body and is accompanied by stiffness. People with fibromyalgia usually feel tired after waking up as they miss the deep stage of sleep that provides body and brain a chance to rejuvenate.

Some people might also get diarrhoea, constipation, bloating or abdominal pains along with headaches and facial pain. Some of the other common symptoms include dizziness, anxiety, mood swings, dry eyes and mouth, difficulty in concentrating, numbness and painful periods for ladies.

Treating Fibromyalgia

There is not much information available regarding diet and nutrition for fibromyalgia it is not sure if any diet affects fibromyalgia positively or negatively. As a general rule, eating a well balanced diet that has all the food items from food pyramid is important to keep our body and mind in best shape. Fibromyalgia diet is not special but it just includes food items that are low in fat content and high in oxidants that boost the immunity. These work along with phytochemicals to maximize energy and minimize fatigue.

Some people have been able to cure fibromyalgia by making some changes in their diet and lifestyle. There are some healthy recipes that can help you cure it and Internet is a good place to look for. You can also talk to a dietician who can draft a diet plan for you.

Other Considerations to Treat Fibromyalgia

The most important thing that you can do to fight fibromyalgia is to take care of yourself. There are small changes that will take you a long way. It is good to reduce the stress in your life. You must give yourself time to relax and if possible meditate. It is also important to get enough sleep and you can do this by developing good sleep habits like going to bed on time, and getting up at the same time each morning. Limit your daytime sleep so that you can get a good sleep in the night.

Exercise will be very helpful in treating fibromyalgia though it might be difficult initially but persistence is the key. You can start with easy forms of exercise such as walking or swimming and then gradually increase the intensity. Even during the day, keep yourself active. Eat a well balanced diet and avoid alcohol, drugs and caffeine. Engage in the physical activities that interest you.