Since 1993, May 12 has been the designated World Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day, coinciding with the birth of Florence Nightingale, a nurse who would remain bedridden for 50 years because of this disease.
What is fibromyalgia?
It is a rheumatological disease whose main characteristic is a generalized pain in the musculoskeletal system and which also generates persistent fatigue. Although its symptoms are known and there are suspicions that its origin is neurological, demonstrable causes have not yet been determined. The sensory threshold decreases, and, consequently, the perception of the stimuli suffers an alteration, perceiving proportionally more pain in the face of external stimuli.
What is demonstrable is that it has the following symptoms:
- What is demonstrable is that it has the following symptoms:
- headache
- insomnia
- anxiety and fatigue, among others
At present it affects from 2% to 7% of the world population, although there are still differences and doubts in how to treat or diagnose it. It is a disease that tends to be more common in women between the ages of 20 and 50, however, it can also be suffered by men and children.
How is fibromyalgia treated?
Although there is no standard treatment for all patients, it must be adapted to each one according to their characteristics, to control the symptoms that accompany the disease.
The therapies that are usually used are:
- Nutrition
- Psychology and psychopharmacology
- Physiotherapy - Physical exercises / massages
- Medical acupuncture
What is chronic fatigue?
As for the chronic fatigue syndrome, it is a disease that generates persistent fatigue and cognitive difficulties without an apparent basis, but that interferes in the daily life of those who suffer from it. It affects 7 out of every 100,000 people in the world. Chronic fatigue syndrome can be difficult to diagnose. There are no tests and other diseases can cause similar symptoms. The doctor must rule out other conditions before making a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.
There is also no approved cure or treatment, but the patient may be able to treat or control some of their symptoms. For example, if you have trouble sleeping more, you should first try to have good sleep habits. If that doesn't help, you may need to take medicine or see a sleep specialist. It can also help you learn new ways of doing things. Try not to exceed your limits, and it is essential to have the support of family and friends.
