Fibromyalgia Statistics

Researchers still are not sure what causes fibromyalgia. However, they do know that it is becoming more and more common. Fibromyalgia is defined as widespread muscle pain and tenderness. It is often hard to diagnose because the symptoms change from day to day and are common with other symptoms. Therefore, fibromyalgia can go unrecognized for years before being diagnosed. Fibromyalgia affects three to six million people. If you broke that figure down it works out to be about one in every fifty people. Eighty to ninety percent of people who are diagnosed are women in their childbearing years, although it has been found in men, the elderly and children.

Fibromyalgia is not contagious, but if someone in your family has it, it is very likely that you will develop symptoms as well. Fibromyalgia is considered a rheumatic condition and comes in second after osteoarthritis for prevalence. At least half of the people who are diagnosed with fibromyalgia are sensitive to odors, noise, bright lights and numerous foods. Researchers have noticed that people who have fibromyalgia have three times the usual quantity of substance P in their spinal fluid. Substance P tells the body how much pain it feels.

Fibromyalgia affects people differently again making it very difficult to diagnose. Along with muscle pain, tiredness and tenderness, some people also experience headaches, memory problems, pain in their pelvic area, sensitivity to temperatures, restless leg syndrome and depression to name a few. Some people are treated with medication and some are not. It depends on the type of symptoms they are experiencing. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but there are treatments available depending on your own specific needs.