Fibromyalgia has proven to be a very disabling disorder affecting up to 2 to 4% of the worlds population. Women seem to be much more affected than men. With all this in mind we must take note of the fact that the illness is most often misdiagnosed. Patients suffering from this disorder fell pain and aches all day long, they sleep poorly, feel very stiff when waking up, and are actually tired and feel fatigued the entire day. They are very prone to head aches, they have memory and concentration problems, feel dizzy , numbness and tingling , itching , have fluid retention, have abdominal cramps, diarrhea and several more symptoms. There are no complete lab tests that can tell for sure if a person has or doesn't have fibromyalgia. This disease usually runs in the family, suggesting a genetic inherited predisposition. The illness can actually stay dormant until triggered by an injury, high levels of stress or severe sleep disturbance. Being very similar with chronic disease and irritable bowel syndromes, it is v



ery often suggested that all these are actually facets of the same underlying disorder.

What actually causes the appearance of the disease is actually still unknown. Doctors have suggested through out time that it is either an inflammatory or psychiatric condition. Abnormal deep sleep is sometimes thought to be the problem behind fibromyalgia patients. Abnormal brain waves have actually been found during the deep sleep period of patients. A lack of a specific hormone is also thought to be causing the disease. This hormone seems to be produced during the deep sleep period of the human.

Completely curing fibromyalgia is not yet possible but treatments do exist that can make the life of the patient much better. The fact is that treating the disease has actually proven very difficult because it involves a lot of work, education, and involvement of the patient. On top of taking medications patients also have to undergo a strict behavior change. In order for the treatment to best have its intended effect, the patient is required to have regular sleep hours and an adequate amount of sleep. Supplementation is also needed in order to improve the sleep. Daily gentle aerobic exercises are must also be done. The ill person must under all circumstances avoid physical or emotional stress. Another required measure is the treatment of any coexisting sleep disorder.

Patients suffering from this disorder must try to go to bed roughly the same time every night. Slightly changing the schedule will severely upset the disease. Gentle daily exercise is also very important for the comfort and well being of the patient. Over exercising is not at all indicated. People with the disorder must try to stay calm as much as possible, knowing that stress is very bad for them. Treating other sleeping disorders is also very important.