Fibromyalgia Statistics

A person with Fibromyalgia disease may experience tingling, fatigue, muscle spasm and nerve discomfort. Fibromyalgia is a disease that is recognized for the extreme pain that spreads to many parts of the body, such as the lower and upper back, shoulders and neck.

Fibromyalgia tends to run in families and women in those families are seven times more likely to get it than men. One out of fifty people gets this disease and it affects over three million people from the ages eighteen and older in the United States. Fifty percent of people with this disease have sensitivities to bright lights, noise, smell, medicines and foods. Though the causes of Fibromyalgia are not known for sure, there are some things that can lead to it. People with food allergies, anemia, insomnia, immune system problems and nutritional defects may be at a greater risk of developing Fibromyalgia.

Doctors diagnose Fibromyalgia by asking if a patient has a history of having pain lasting more than three months and where on the body the worst pain is. This diagnosis is not easy because it does not show up in any blood work or on any x-rays.

Stretching and exercising may help the symptoms of this disease. There is no cure for Fibromyalgia at this time, but there are many kinds of medicines and therapies that can be used to help lessen the pain. Some of them are central nervous system stimulants, muscle combination therapy, antidepressants, analgesics, and muscle relaxants. Certain Vitamin combinations may also be useful.