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Functional Medicine and Chronic Pain Care | Central Chiropractor

Functional Medicine and Chronic Pain Care | Central Chiropractor

Functional Medicine can help with according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC, chronic diseases and ailments, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, type two diabetes, obesity, and arthritis, are the most common, expensive, and preventable of all health problems. The prevalence of chronic pain is higher than that of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined.

 

What is the prevalence of chronic pain?

 

In the USA, 86% of all healthcare spending in 2010 has been directed at people with one or more chronic ailments. Alarming projections indicate future generations may have shorter, less healthy lifestyles, and health care costs are estimated to grow to $4.153 trillion. Behaviours, such as being inadequate nutrition, sedentary, tobacco use, and alcohol intake, lead to much of distress, this illness, and death linked to chronic diseases and ailments.

 

According to the American College of Preventive Medicine, many chronic diseases are preventable and reversible in the event a comprehensive, individualized strategy that addresses genetics, diet, stress, physical activity, and sleep is executed through integrated functional medicine teams and based on empirical research. Health is perceived as more than just as illness is greater than the lack of health in the person’s body.

 

What’s Functional Medicine?

 

Functional medicine (FM) addresses the underlying causes of illness, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both practitioner and patient at a healing partnership. The practitioner can support the healing process by viewing illness and health as part of a cycle, all components of the biological system interact dynamically with the surroundings by changing the attention of clinic to a patient-centered approach. Functional medicine also takes as its focus, one relationship: the sacred trust between the person and the doctor who chooses to be the patient of the provider. Functional medicine is further directed by 6 core fundamentals:

 

  • Recognizing the biochemical individuality of every Individual, based on the theories of genetics and environmental influence
  • Emphasis on a patient-centered rather than a disease-centered approach to remedy
  • Trying to find a dynamic equilibrium among the internal and external experiences
  • Familiarity with the intricate relations of internal physiological things
  • Identification of health as a positive vitality, not merely the absence of disorder
  • Promotion of organ preservation because the capacity to enhance the well-being span, not only the lifespan of every individual. The role of professionals would be to spend time listening to their histories and taking a look at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that could influence complicated and long-term health disease, such as chronic pain. Experiences can result in the upkeep of chronic pain, exercise, diet, thoughts, feelings, and environmental consequences.

 

Science has given support to what may be known unconsciously, how we live, the quality of our relationships, how the food that we eat, and how we use our own bodies, have a much bigger effect than genetics ever will. By fixing these poor habits, in other words, pain is treated by functional medicine. This is also a basic principle of health. Functioning correctly, FM helps practitioners treat patients, to prevent, and cure chronic conditions efficiently and at lower cost compared to traditional medical paradigm.

 

The “I” in disease underlines how disease affects the body or thoughts of the individual, and also the “w” in health leads us to work together to attain a condition of being in great physical and psychological health. Thus, the approach into the management of pain is delivered in a group format. The group therapy protocol includes 4 sessions which are approximately 60 to 75 minutes each in duration. The treatment team consists of a dietitian an osteopath doctor, and a health psychologist. Patients are coached to modify their surroundings and live an anti inflammatory lifestyle through 4 important pillars: 1) diet, 2) exercise, 3) stress control( and 4) sleep hygiene.

 

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez

 

Additional Topics: Wellness

 

Overall health and wellness are essential towards maintaining the proper mental and physical balance in the body. From eating a balanced nutrition as well as exercising and participating in physical activities, to sleeping a healthy amount of time on a regular basis, following the best health and wellness tips can ultimately help maintain overall well-being. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can go a long way towards helping people become healthy.

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How Psychologists Help Fibromyalgia Patients | Central Chiropractor

How Psychologists Help Fibromyalgia Patients | Central Chiropractor

About 30% of people with fibromyalgia experience nervousness, depression, or some form of mood disturbance. Researchers have not yet determined whether fibromyalgia causes these conditions or vice versa, but what has become clear is that when your psychological state succumbs to your physical pain, your pain gets stronger. That’s why your physician may recommend you seek a psychiatrist, psychologist, or a counselor.

 

How can mental and emotional support help with fibromyalgia?

 

Fibromyalgia is a complex condition. Its symptoms will often impact your life in a way that transcend pain and are varied. The pain and fatigue alone could be sufficient to negatively alter your lifestyle, thus affecting your mood. To take control of your symptoms, you may have to have a multi-disciplinary strategy, incorporating psychology, physical therapy, and medications, to help provide overall relief from all fibromyalgia symptoms.

 

The Difference Between Anxiety and Depression

 

Many individuals frequently group anxiety and depression together. Although it is true that you may be anxious and depressed, the two are not quite the same and it may be important to understand this to find relief.

 

Intense, chronic sadness characterizes depression. Actual depression is much more significant, although you might say you are depressed after a particularly bad day at work.

 

People manage depression in their own way. You cry or lash out in anger. You eat in reaction to your annoyance or may spend days in bed. No matter the reason, what is most important is recognizing the shift in your behavior. If you find yourself thinking, “I never used to feel like that. My life used to be greater,” then speak with your physician or therapist.

 

Anxiety, on the other hand, is known for its consuming feelings of fear, panic, and worry which are excessive. You may feel as though your heart is racing, so much in fact that your nervousness may be confused with a heart issue.

 

 

Finding the Proper Mental Health Professional

 

There are various kinds of professionals, including licensed professional counselors (LPCs), psychologists, and psychiatrists that are trained to diagnose and cure whatever mental or emotional pain you are experiencing. Your health care provider will help you select which one will best help you.

 

LPCs might diagnose and treat fibromyalgia and they may often be required to have a master’s degree in counseling mental and psychological disorders. Psychologists, a separate set of non-physician mental health professionals, have doctorate degrees and cure psychological issues using therapies (ie, cognitive-behavioral therapy). Psychiatrists are medical doctors who are licensed to prescribe.

 

Recognizing that your pain is physical can be hard, and visiting a mental health professional may be daunting, but doing so can decrease your fibromyalgia pain. In the event that you don’t need drugs, visiting a health specialist may be an extremely beneficial experience. You may talk about your expertise with fibromyalgia, which is therapeutic in itself.

 

If you detect a change in your outlook on life and have fibromyalgia, do not be afraid to seek out the help of mental health professional. The ultimate purpose is to allow you to feel better about yourself and recover a life.

 

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez

 

Additional Topics: Wellness

 

Overall health and wellness are essential towards maintaining the proper mental and physical balance in the body. From eating a balanced nutrition as well as exercising and participating in physical activities, to sleeping a healthy amount of time on a regular basis, following the best health and wellness tips can ultimately help maintain overall well-being. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can go a long way towards helping people become healthy.

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Technology: Becoming A Pain In Your Child�s Neck?

Technology: Becoming A Pain In Your Child�s Neck?

Did you know people send an average of 250 million texts daily? Along with the convenience that technology provides, also comes the need to avoid or minimize injuries. This is particularly true of young people, who are still growing.

With the ever increasing daily use of mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and handheld games, chiropractors are seeing an increase in corresponding Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI’s), known by names like text neck and Blackberry thumb. RSIs are injuries of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems that are often caused by repetitive activities, forceful exertions, vibrations, mechanical compression (pressing against hard surfaces), or sustained awkward positions.

What Is Text Neck?

technology infographic F4CP posture el paso tx

Text neck shows itself as curved shoulders, head hanging forward and down and is caused by poor posture from being�hunched over a mobile device for a long time. This prolonged poor posture is often related to chronic headaches, shoulder, neck pain and can have long term impact.

text neck technology boy looking at phone el paso txFor every inch of forward head posture, it can increase the weight of the head�on the backbone by an additional 10 pounds.

 

 

Physiology Of Joints & Technology

Young men and women are especially at risk as they are heavy users of advancing technology i.e. smartphones and handheld gaming devices.

 

Text neck and neck strain can cause postural abnormalities and change the growth pattern, especially in the spine.

Technology isn’t going anywhere, so how can we help our children minimize the risks? The trick is to stress the importance of posture and how to attain it, since text neck is a postural abnormality.

 

 

Chiropractic And Strong Posture

Recommendations To Avoid Text Neck

There are several things parents and young people can incorporate into their daily activities to alleviate the symptoms of text neck, related RSIs and fortify their posture:

  • Sit up straight with chest out and shoulders back.
  • Bring your arms up to eye level so you don’t have to look down to see the screen.
  • If you must look down, tuck your chin into your neck instead of hanging your head forward.
  • If you use your mobile device for extensive typing, consider investing in an external keyboard.
  • Rest your forearms on a pillow while typing to minimize neck tension.
  • Avoid using mobile devices in bright sunlight. Straining to see the screen often leads forward chin movement which, strain the head muscles.

Try For A Balanced Lifestyle

The best way to minimize the risk of RSIs related to mobile devices is to balance the use of these devices and all around techology.

Balance is critical. Encourage your child to take breaks from devices that are mobile and get regular physical activity to offset the effects of leaning over a smartphone, tablet or computer.

“You want to neutralize the stress,” says Doctor of chiropractic Brian Gushaty. “Strenuous physical activity for the upper body, such as racquet sports, can provide a good counterbalance for the strain caused by poor posture.”

Another key element is to introduce your child to a regular stretching program:

  • Hand stretches and squeezing a stress ball can help fingers.
  • Pull shoulder blades down and back to help alleviate neck and shoulder strain.
  • Stretch the chest by standing up straight with arms down at your side. Turn forearms until thumbs are pointing at the wall behind you.
  • Posture strengthening programs, like Straighten Up Alberta, is a fun, fast and effortless method to incorporate stretching into your daily routine.

If you are worried your child is suffering from a repetitive strain injury like text neck, speak to a health care provider. A chiropractor is trained to treat RSI’s in all age groups and can provide advice on achieving a balanced healthy lifestyle for your whole family.

Proper Sleep Can Help Relieve Fibromyalgia Pain | Central Chiropractor

Proper Sleep Can Help Relieve Fibromyalgia Pain | Central Chiropractor

More than half of people with fibromyalgia experience proper sleep issues. You may have a hard time falling asleep or wake up several times during the night if you have this painful condition. You don’t spend enough time at the deeper sleep stages. Or you possibly suffer from all three.

 

How can poor sleep affect fibromyalgia?

 

It isn’t simply important that there’s a sleep problem in the first place, but more so, that there is a problem causing you to experience sleeping issues. Without proper rest, chronic pain will aggravate and fatigue can increase. Finding a solution will not cure your fibromyalgia, but it is going to lower your pain and tiredness. And since those are the very painful fibromyalgia symptoms, that may be consolation enough.

 

The Value of Proper Sleep with Fibromyalgia

 

The worth of sleep goes beyond simply giving you a rest. It has biochemical and psychological significance. A few reasons your body needs a good night’s sleep include:

 

  • Proper Sleep allows your body to fix damaged tissues.
  • Dreaming promotes good physical and psychological wellness.
  • Some essential hormones, growth hormone, for instance, are secreted during sleep or soon before waking.
  • You concentrate better and are less fatigued with a good night’s sleep. Deficiency of quality rest can cause what is known as the fibro fog (the inability to focus and concentrate because of fibromyalgia’s extreme fatigue).

 

Many researchers consider fibromyalgia sufferers don’t get enough deep sleep. Fundamentally, sleep researchers have identified three kinds of sleep, mild sleep (stages 1 and 2), deep sleep (stages 3 and 4), and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.) If you don’t spend enough time in deep sleep, your body reduces the production of hormones that are important. Pain may be increased by decreased production of these hormones .

 

Likewise, if you don’t experience sufficient REM sleep, your body may produce less cortisol (although the hormone, which controls blood pressure and blood surgar, may be released at any given time during proper sleep). People with fibromyalgia may have reduced levels of cortisol, which contributes to their fatigue.

 

7 Tips to Help Achieve Better Sleep

 

  • Anti-depressants. Many people find that low doses of tricyclic anti-depressants help attain a more profound sleep. The drugs make people feel exhausted, and then fall asleep. Talk to your doctor about possible side effects.
  • Don’t watch TV or surf the Internet on your computer instantly before going to bed. These activities boost activity from the brain, which makes it more difficult to fall asleep.
  • Get more exercise.Your pain and fatigue may save you from exercising, but mild exercise may help you to get a more therapeutic sleep.
  • Herbal supplements. Valerian, kava kava, and melatonin are alternative medications which have helped some people fall asleep. Valerian helps with insomnia, kava kava also treats insomnia, along with stress and nervousness, and cortisol helps reset the body’s natural rhythm. Always speak to your doctor before taking herbal or other supplements to avoid a potentially significant interaction with drugs you take, especially if they’re prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
  • Mattress choice. You may be on the market for a new mattress, if you are not sleeping on a bed that promotes a good night’s sleep. You will find a variety of mattresses that can make a big difference in your quality of sleep.
  • Prescription sleep treatments. There are an assortment of FDA-approved drugs specifically for sleep disorders, such as zolpidem (Ambien) and eszoplicone (Lunesta).
  • Simulate the breathing of deep sleep. This may “trick” your body into sleeping by taking slow deep breaths which mimic those of the deeper sleep stages. You will feel relaxed and better able to fall asleep.

 

If you are experiencing proper sleep problems, talk with your physician. You will learn the best treatment choices to give you the excellent sleep you need to help suppress your fibromyalgia symptoms.

 

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez

 

Additional Topics: Wellness

 

Overall health and wellness are essential towards maintaining the proper mental and physical balance in the body. From eating a balanced nutrition as well as exercising and participating in physical activities, to proper sleep for a healthy amount of time on a regular basis, following the best health and wellness tips can ultimately help maintain overall well-being. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can go a long way towards helping people become healthy.

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TRENDING TOPIC: EXTRA EXTRA: Fibromyalgia

 

 

Physical Therapeutics for Fibromyalgia | Central Chiropractor

Physical Therapeutics for Fibromyalgia | Central Chiropractor

Physical therapy often takes a hands-on approach, which might make you cringe if you’re experiencing pain from several hypersensitive tender points. However, in managing your fibromyalgia symptoms, gentle and effective are used by physical therapy, and will most likely play a part in the recovery process.

 

Can physical therapy help ease fibromyalgia?

 

There are a variety of physical therapy techniques. Passive treatments include hydrotherapy, heat therapy, deep tissue massage, electrical muscle stimulation, and ultrasound and relax the body. Your physical therapy program will often start with passive treatments. When you feel ready, you will begin active treatments that protect against fibromyalgia pain and strengthen your body. Your physical therapist may work with you to develop a suitable strategy.

 

Passive Physical Therapy Treatments for Fibromyalgia

 

Deep Tissue Massage: Unless you’re in an extreme amount of pain, deep tissue massage is an ideal fibromyalgia treatment because it uses a good deal of pressure to ease deep muscle tension and spasms. Spasms prevent muscle motion in the affected level, which is just one reason people with fibromyalgia experience a diminished range of movement. Physical therapy techniques, including deep tissue massage, can assist you to use your muscles more efficiently. This treatment could be combined with cold or heat remedies to improve the benefits.

 

Heat Therapy: Heat treatment is one of the most preferred methods of reducing chronic aches and pains associated with fibromyalgia. The body’s natural recovery process is triggered by heat by relaxing your muscles and speeding up blood flow. Extra oxygen is delivered by extra blood and nutrients. Blood removes waste byproducts from muscle spasms.

 

Heat may not fully eliminate the origin of your pain, but it could effectively lower your pain. This treatment is used in a couple of ways–via dry heat (a heating system or a sterile, warm towel) or moist heat (steam heating or some moist, warm fabric).

 

When utilizing heat treatment on your own after physical treatment ends, never overheat painful areas. If you are using a heating pad, set it. It is not overly hot, when using a towel that is hot, touch it to make sure. Heat potentially cause burns but also may not only exacerbate your fibromyalgia pain.

 

Hydrotherapy: As the name suggests, hydrotherapy involves water. As a treatment, hydrotherapy may involve sitting at a bath to ease pain, relax muscles, without adding strain, and condition your body.

 

Electric Muscle Stimulation: It isn’t debilitating, although electric muscle stimulation seems intense. This technique reduces muscle spasms and is generally believed to trigger the release of endorphins, which can be your body’s natural pain killers.

 

Ultrasound: This treatment utilizes sound waves to create a gentle heat that increases blood circulation to your deep tissues. Ultrasound helps decrease pain, inflammation, stiffness, and muscle spasms and is successful in relieving variety of motion limitations to people with inflammatory problems.

 

Active Physical Therapy Treatments for Fibromyalgia

 

Active treatments help address core stability, flexibility, strength, and joint motion. An exercise program may also be prescribed to attain outcomes. This will not curb recurrent pain but will benefit your general health. Your physical therapist will work with you to develop a schedule based on your particular symptoms and wellness.

 

Active treatments include:

 

Core stability: Your core (abdominal) muscles have a greater impact on your general health than you could think. In supporting your spine strong core muscles serve as great allies to your back muscles. It’s called the core since it is the powerhouse of your body. Naturally, your body is provided by a core with a stable centre stage.

 

Muscle flexibility and strengthening: Your variety of motion will probably be restricted if you’re experiencing fibromyalgia pain. Utilizing customized strengthening and stretching exercises, your physical therapist can help you strengthen and lengthen your muscles, and improve joint movement. Pain is better handled by strong muscles.

 

Hydrotherapy: Water-based exercises may be recommended to present gentle aerobic conditioning.

 

Your physician will teach you self-care principles so you recognize how to best treat your fibromyalgia symptoms. The ultimate goal is for you to develop the knowledge to help control your symptoms.

 

It’s essential that you understand the exercises and continue them after the proper therapy ends. You won’t like results if you fail to continue with a fitness regimen. You can reduce additional fibromyalgia pain, by caring for your body on your own.

 

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�Green-Call-Now-Button-24H-150x150-2.png

 

By Dr. Alex Jimenez

 

Additional Topics: Wellness

 

Overall health and wellness are essential towards maintaining the proper mental and physical balance in the body. From eating a balanced nutrition as well as exercising and participating in physical activities, to sleeping a healthy amount of time on a regular basis, following the best health and wellness tips can ultimately help maintain overall well-being. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can go a long way towards helping people become healthy.

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TRENDING TOPIC: EXTRA EXTRA: Fibromyalgia

 

 

Exercise Reduces Symptoms from Fibromyalgia | Central Chiropractor

Exercise Reduces Symptoms from Fibromyalgia | Central Chiropractor

Fibromyalgia is a mysterious disorder that has been misunderstood for many years, however, there are lots of treatment options available to relieve its symptoms. When it comes to fibromyalgia, exercise can be beneficial to relieve it.

 

How does exercise help fibromyalgia?

 

Exercise will be an essential part of fibromyalgia therapy, although your chronic pain and fatigue may make exercising seem excruciating. Physical activity reduces symptoms such as fatigue, depression, and can even help you sleep better. Exercise can be a fundamental part of managing your symptoms.

 

Exercise for Fibromyalgia

 

Getting regular physical activity 30 minutes per day, helps reduce perceptions of pain in people with fibromyalgia, according to a 2010 study published in Arthritis Research & Therapy. The signs of fibromyalgia may make exercising a challenge, although exercise is a commonly prescribed treatment for chronic pain.

 

During a research study, the research team separated 84 minimally active patients (though just 73 finished the trial) into 2 classes. The first group had to perform thirty minutes of Lifestyle Physical Activity (LPA) 5 to 7 days a week. LPA is activity that is moderately intense. In other words, your breathing rate should be increased by it, while you’re doing it but you need to still be comfortable carrying a conversation.

 

Another group received information about fibromyalgia and attended support groups.

 

The researchers found that the patients who had routine physical activity increased their average daily steps by over 50 percent. Also, the active patients reported less pain. Although the LPA group underwent physical function and decreased pain perceptions, the researchers observed no difference in tiredness, depression, or body mass index with all the patients in the support group.

 

Pain can be experienced by individuals with fibromyalgia and that may eliminate any motivation to exercise. But what this study shows is that 30 minutes per day of moderate activity may really make a difference in the way pain is perceived by you. You do not have to operate on a treadmill for 30 minutes or engage in heavy quantities of exercise to attain these results, the researchers state. You could engage in gardening or have a walk, if that’s what you enjoy. Little adjustments, like taking the stairs rather than the elevator, might make a huge difference.

 

Fibromyalgia and exercise might seem like an odd pair. It’s simple to find out why you might not wish to spend hours in the gym when you have widespread chronic pain. Only the thought of exercise may conjure up some pretty intense imagery (ie, daunting treadmills and chilly, heavy barbells). However, any way you look at it, exercise is a vital part of managing your fibromyalgia symptoms. Some special benefits for fibromyalgia victims are:

 

  • It strengthens your muscles. Muscles which are flexible, lean, and robust combat stress. Strong muscles support your body and bones better, which help support and movement.
  • Energy is increased by it. People with fibromyalgia often experience debilitating fatigue, and physical activity can help enhance energy and endurance levels.
  • It promotes a relaxed sleep. Research shows that exercise will help you fall asleep and stay asleep longer. Sleep disorders are a common fibromyalgia symptom–just one which exacerbates the widespread pain of the disorder. Better sleep can mean less pain.
  • It’s good for your mental health. Exercise reduces stress, nervousness, and depression–all frequent symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
  • It keeps the weight off. The more weight you carry, the more stress it puts on the body, causing pain. Exercise, along with a balanced diet, will help you maintain or reach a healthful weight.

 

Where to Start: Exercising with Fibromyalgia

 

The first step is using a sensible look in the exercise. You don’t need to spend hours in the gym, along with your work outs shouldn’t be boot camp sessions. You can improve your fitness, and thereby strengthen your back to fight your own fibromyalgia pain, together with some stretches, strength exercises, and aerobic that don’t need time.

 

It is important to understand that development is important to the achievement of any fitness regimen. Don’t leap without first sparking a stretching and aerobic exercise system. If you do not start slow, then you may end up causing more damage than good.

 

What Exercise Can Do

 

Promote flexibility and begin by engaging in a stretching program to lengthen tight muscles. Your physician may recommend including in types like walking or swimming.

 

Supplement your cardiovascular routine or you may want to enlist in an aerobics class, when you feel comfortable. Pilates and yoga could be strength training options that are great, as they utilize your own body weight.

 

It is important to stress a graded approach to exercise. In training and in research it has been shown that both fatigue and pain improves; however, extreme exercise make them worse. Patients should be cautioned to begin off very slowly. This might be a small as a minute or 2 at a time initially. Many individuals are too competitive in the start and exercise . These patients give up on exercise as a treatment choice and require an approach. The message has to be that a little exercise will make you too much and better can make you worse. The amount of exercise at is the goal.

 

Talk with your doctor about what exercises will fit you. You’ll need to take physical fitness tests for your pain and you will want to tell your doctor what activities you like to increase to stick with the program. You’ll develop an exercise regimen that can help you provide you a better quality of life and manage your fibromyalgia symptoms.

 

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez

 

Additional Topics: Wellness

 

Overall health and wellness are essential towards maintaining the proper mental and physical balance in the body. From eating a balanced nutrition as well as exercising and participating in physical activities, to sleeping a healthy amount of time on a regular basis, following the best health and wellness tips can ultimately help maintain overall well-being. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can go a long way towards helping people become healthy.

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TRENDING TOPIC: EXTRA EXTRA: Fibromyalgia

 

 

Fibromyalgia Study: It’s a Real Disease | Central Chiropractor

Fibromyalgia Study: It’s a Real Disease | Central Chiropractor

We do not know what causes fibromyalgia, but today, as a result of a fibromyalgia study, we’ve got a clue. Fibromyalgia may be related to an abnormal blood flow in specific regions of the brain.

 

How is fibromyalgia associated with circulation in the brain?

 

Dr. Eric Guedj of the Centre Hospitalier-Universitaire de la Timone in Marseille, France, has been the lead researcher in a research examining blood perfusion (abnormal blood circulation) as a possible fibromyalgia cause.

 

Fibromyalgia Study Results

 

Past imaging studies of patients with fibromyalgia have shown above normal cerebral blood flow (brain perfusion) in some areas of the brain and below normal at other locations,” explains Dr. Guedj in a press release about the research.

 

“After performing whole brain scans around the participants, we used a statistical analysis to examine the relationship between practical activity in even the smallest area of the brain and various parameters associated with pain, disability, as well as anxiety and depression.”

 

Dr. Guedj’s team analyzed 30 women, 20 with fibromyalgia and 10 with no symptoms. The women answered various questionnaires used in the research field to quantify such things as pain levels and how badly fibromyalgia limits patients’ lives. Then the girls underwent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), a special type of brain scan. With analyzing their brain scans, the researchers examined the women’s answers in combination.

 

What Did They Find in the Fibromyalgia Study?

 

Dr. Guedj’s group verified that women with fibromyalgia have abnormal blood flow in two areas of the brain:

 

  • They have too much blood circulation (called hyperperfusion) at the area of the brain that’s supposed to interpret the intensity of pain.
  • They have too little blood circulation (known as hypoperfusion) in the region of the brain that is involved in the psychological response to pain.

 

Additionally, Dr. Guedj’s team found that when a participant’s fibromyalgia symptoms were acute (as noticed by the research), then the level of blood perfusion was acute. To put it differently, the severity of the syndrome correlates with the intensity of blood circulation.

 

The group didn’t find a correlation between blood perfusion and the participants’ levels of depression or anxiety. That’s important to notice because previously, it’s been indicated that fibromyalgia pain is connected to depression: fibromyalgia patients experience widespread pain in part because of depression or nervousness.

 

What Exactly Does This Mean for Fibromyalgia Sufferers?

 

Dr. Guedj sums it up nicely in a media release: “This research shows that these patients exhibit modifications of brain perfusion not seen in healthy subjects and reinforces the idea that fibromyalgia is a ‘actual disease/disorder’.”

 

Quite simply, this study could help move fibromyalgia from syndrome to disease status since it has found a potential reason for fibromyalgia symptoms. Because there isn’t one cause of it fibromyalgia is known as a syndrome rather than a disease. Rather, there are signs and symptoms which point to a fibromyalgia diagnosis: for example, widespread pain, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and headaches. The analysis could help the medical community better understand fibromyalgia and how to effectively treat it.

 

Fibromyalgia is a complex condition affecting 3 million to 7 million Americans–many of these girls (hence why only women were utilized in the study). At the moment, there is healthcare professionals which have to diagnose it by eliminating other possible diseases/syndromes and by paying careful attention. This SPECT study could result in a way to confirm a fibromyalgia diagnosis.

 

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez

 

Additional Topics: Wellness

 

Overall health and wellness are essential towards maintaining the proper mental and physical balance in the body. From eating a balanced nutrition as well as exercising and participating in physical activities, to sleeping a healthy amount of time on a regular basis, following the best health and wellness tips can ultimately help maintain overall well-being. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can go a long way towards helping people become healthy.

blog picture of cartoon paperboy big news

 

TRENDING TOPIC: EXTRA EXTRA: Fibromyalgia

 

 

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