Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes a lot of pain and fatigue.
If you are dealing with fibromyalgia, you are also likely to experience problems with sleep, memory and mood swings.
Although the exact cause of fibromyalgia is not yet known, there are several ways to keep the symptoms under control. This is possible, for example, using infrared light.
At Mvolo we are committed to providing you with the best possible products to help you treat fibromyalgia on a daily basis. In addition, we are also committed to the charity LPO (National Pain Organization) to contribute directly to initiatives for awareness, education and research.
For now, we look at the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia, the possible causes and give you some useful tips to alleviate your personal complaints.
Which fibromyalgia complaints are there?
Are you dealing with fibromyalgia yourself? Then you probably experience quite a few of the following complaints:
#1: Chronic pain
The most common complaint in fibromyalgia is chronic pain. This pain is often described as a constant, dull ache that lasts for at least 3 months.
The pain usually occurs on both sides of the body, above and below the waist. This pain has a negative impact on your daily functioning and is often most intensely noticeable in the morning or after physical exertion.
#2: Fatigue
Fatigue is another common complaint in fibromyalgia. People with this condition often feel exhausted even after sleeping for a very long time.
This fatigue then lasts all day and makes it a real 'rut' to carry out your daily activities.
In addition to physical fatigue, you can also expect mental fatigue, which in turn causes concentration problems and memory disorders.
#3: Sleep problems
A third symptom is trouble sleeping. Many people with this condition have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. And even if they do, they still don't feel rested after a long night of sleep.
This has everything to do with the fact that fibromyalgia negatively affects the quality of your sleep. Poor sleep then worsens pain and fatigue, creating a vicious cycle.
#4: Cognitive problems
The last symptom remains the cognitive problems. This is often referred to as 'fibro fog'. This concerns:
· Memory disorders
· Difficulty concentrating
· Decreased ability to perform mental tasks
When you have to deal with this at work, it leads to frustration and stress.
The cause of fibromyalgia
When we look at the causes of fibromyalgia, it appears that it is not yet entirely clear what the exact cause is. Science has now made that clear certain things contribute to the development of it. This concerns, for example:
· Genetic predisposition: Genetic predisposition plays an important role in the development of fibromyalgia. Research has shown that fibromyalgia is more common in certain families. Genetic variations affect how the body processes pain, making some people more sensitive to pain and more likely to develop fibromyalgia.
· Infections: Certain infections can also trigger or worsen fibromyalgia. Viral or bacterial infections disrupt the immune system and lead to long-term pain and fatigue. Consider infections such as Lyme disease, hepatitis C and the Epstein-Barr virus.
· Physical or emotional trauma: Third, physical or emotional trauma also contributes to the development of fibromyalgia. Traumatic events (e.g., a car accident, surgery, or serious illness) can put your body in a state of chronic stress. This causes long-term pain and fatigue. Emotional trauma, such as the loss of a loved one, abuse or extreme stress may also play a role.
3 tips to reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia
Are you struggling with it yourself or does someone around you have fibromyalgia? Then fortunately it is possible to do something about it and work towards a slightly more pain-free future. You can do this using the following tips:
1. Choose infrared light therapy: It has now been proven that infrared light therapy is an effective way to relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Because this type of light is able to penetrate deep into the skin, it ensures improved blood circulation and more cell regeneration. This way you will reduce inflammation and repair damaged tissue in a very direct way. Use for about 15 to 20 minutes every day one of our lamps and see results quickly.
2. Get more exercise: A second tip is to simply exercise more, in a responsible manner. For example, by walking, swimming and doing yoga, you ensure that muscles remain flexible and reduce pain somewhat. Exercise stimulates the production of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. Moreover, it improves the quality of your sleep.
3. Eat healthy: Finally, we strongly recommend eating healthier, where possible. An unhealthy diet (with a lot of sugar and processed products) worsens the inflammation in your body. A diet with less sugar and more vegetables actually has a positive effect. You will then notice that the pain gradually decreases.
Combine the above measures for the greatest possible positive effect!
