Fibromyalgia a Real Bodily Disease
For too long, sufferers of Fibromyalgia have been told that their symptoms were all in their head. Fibromyalgia is characterized by musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Symptoms sometimes occur after a traumatic physical event, surgery, infection or sometimes a traumatic psychological event. Because Fibromyalgia has sometimes been linked to traumatic psychological events, some doctors have claimed that the disease is psychosomatic. However, new research suggests otherwise and that Fibromyalgia is a real bodily disease.
Pathology of Fibromyalgia Discovered
The National Institutes of Health and The National Biotechnology Information Center recently released groundbreaking research revealing the primary cause of Fibromyalgia. Research has identified that the problem lies in our core body temperature; Fibromyalgia sufferers cannot maintain a steady body temperature. The problem originates in the hypothalamus, or the part of the brain that produces hormones that control body temperature, hunger, moods, sex drive, sleep and thirst, among other functions. Specifically, in the case of Fibromyalgia, aterio-venous shunts or AV shunts in the hypothalamus that are meant to regulate body temperature don’t properly function. It is the job of AV shunts to carry blood supply to the skin and muscles, but when the AV shunts don’t properly operate, they cannot do their job including carrying vital nutrients contained in the blood to the muscles and skin.
The Consequences of Fibromyalgia
As a result of the faulty AV shunts in Fibromyalgia sufferers, temperature regulation can affect muscle and skin health, nerve fibers, and a buildup of lactic acid in the muscles and deep tissue. This buildup of lactic acid can cause pain and fatigue, as the sympathetic nervous system can be disrupted by the faulty AV shunts. The American Academy of Pain Medicine recently featured this research on its cover with a praising editorial by a doctor from Johns Hopkins Hospital. The research so far has been confined to women, since women are largely the primary sufferers of Fibromyalgia.
