Causes of fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is designate by long lasting chronic pain, persistent fatigue, and pain on touch. This pain syndrome is most common in United States as 3 to 4 percent people may suffer from this disorder. This is also cause other health related issues like mental illness i.e., anxiety or depression, abdominal issues, dry eyes or mouth, weight gain or pelvic pain etc. There are so many risk factors which cause fibromyalgia disease.
Risk factors of fibromyalgia diseases
There are certain causes and risk factors leading the fibromyalgia diseases which should be identified for better treatment. These causes are as following:
Biological Factors:
- Genetics or heredity
- Hormonal/Chemical imbalances in Central Nervous System
- Sleep disturbances
- Other Physical health issues
- Irregular Pain massages from Brain
Non Biological Factors:
- Mental or Physical Trauma
- Physical or emotional abuse
- Less Physical activities
- Gender
- Age
Biological Factors
Biological factors are the factors related to the DNA structure and Central nervous system. These factors play a vital role in transfer of disease within family or suffering of an individual also.
Genetics or heredity
Heredity is the one of the major cause of fibromyalgia disease. It does not run directly in families but it appears in cluster within families. There are certain genes abnormalities which may transfer fibromyalgia within families but these genes are not specifically recognized yet.
The risk of Fibromyalgia is several times higher if a person’s first relatives are suffering with this. DNA examination of patients with fibromyalgia, because of chronic pain fire up many genes, explains the transfer of this disease within family. The role of these genes is to stimulate the pain receptors in central nervous system.
Studies about heredity
speculate that there is a highly positive role of genes (which stimulates the pain receptors and linked with nerve fibers) in the people with fibromyalgia or people with chronic pain disorders. Identical twins studies identified that half of the risk of fibromyalgia is determined by genes. Other half is depend on other factors.
A study yelled that there are high pain thresholds in relatives of the people with fibromyalgia then non fibromyalgia relatives. Scientist also indicated that people suffering with fibromyalgia carry more genes which speculate the fiber nerves in sensitive to pain.
That is why people with fibromyalgia show high sensitivity to pain. Several genes are involved in the break down and production of certain neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters are involved in the process of “Pain modulation”, relay system between nerve cells and sensation of pain.
Hormonal/Chemical imbalances in Central Nervous System
The function of our body is dependent on brain chemicals and Hormonal system. The balanced activities i.e., production and release of these chemicals and hormones lead to a more health and smooth life. But if there is an imbalance in any type of hormonal or brain chemical activities, it lead towards mental and physical problems. Brain chemicals are known as “neurotransmitters”.
These neurotransmitters; Serotonin, Dopamine, and hormones; norepinephrine (noradrenaline) process the pain in body. If activities of these hormones or neurotransmitters are disturbed than it may cause fibromyalgia in an individual. Lower than normal levels interrupts the pain receptors and lessen the sensitivity to pain.
If activities of these hormones or neurotransmitters are disturbed than it may cause fibromyalgia in an individual. Lower than normal levels interrupts the pain receptors and lessen the sensitivity to pain.
Irregular Pain massages from Brain
Other than genetic factors and chemical disturbances, irregular pain messages from Brain to other body parts may cause the fibromyalgia disease. If nervous system has some issues in managing these nerve fibers and may not process the pain receptors then it may lead towards fibromyalgia disease.
Abnormal level of brain chemicals and their disturbed correspondence with never cells is one of the major causes of fibromyalgia disease. A study also indicates that nerves located in brain and spinal cord and their irregularity may make people more sensitive to fibromyalgia disease.
Other Physical health issues
Other physical illness and disease related to rheumatic conditions which are linked with effected joints, muscles and bones related problems, may also be linked with fibromyalgia disease. When making diagnoses of fibromyalgia then the following conditions are also tested. These related conditions are as following:
- An illness cause because of joints damage and it produce pain and stiffness in the body is known as Osteoarthritis.
- Disturbance in immune system in which healthy cells and tissues are attacked by immune cells is known as Lupus.
- Other disease effected by immune system in which healthy cells of immune system attacks and disturbs the joints, which may cause pain and swelling in joints is known as Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Other related problems like swelling and pain in the parts of spin known as Ankylosing spondylitis; and a condition that may cause pain in the facial parts like jaws, cheeks and ears etc known asTemporomandibular disorder (TMD).
All these conditions may also cause fibromyalgia in a person, because all of them are related to the body stiffness or chronic pain.
Sleep disturbances
Sleep disturbance is one of the prominent symptoms of the fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia disease may have irregular patterns of sleep they may have more sleep or no sleep patterns. Some people may have enough sleep patterns that they indulge in sleep cycle more than normal people. Because of all these issues doctors are also not sure that either sleep disturbance is a cause of a symptom. But some physicians consider it as a cause of fibromyalgia disease.
Non-biological factors
Mental or Physical Trauma
Stressors and mental traumas may also cause fibromyalgia disease. Any physical injury or accident may lead towards fibromyalgia disease. Studies also indicated that people who have post traumatic experiences or accidents have higher risk of developing fibromyalgia disease. individuals how experienced anxiety, depression or any other post traumatic event like car crash, war, rape or loose of loved one may develop fibromyalgia.
Physical or emotional abuse
Abuse changes the brain patterns and become less sensitive to handle pain and stress. Children how experience excessive physical and emotional abuse may grow up with high risk of fibromyalgia disease.
Gender
To feel and react to pain is different in both genders. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), female have more tendency to develop fibromyalgia then men. It is because of different patterns of hormones activates in women. Women have menstrual cycles which cause the rise and fall of estrogen hormone. This rise and fall of estrogen may higher the risk of fibromyalgia in women.
Age
Fibromyalgia is mostly reported in adults. As according to National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), almost young and middle age adults age ranged from 20 to 50 years suffers with fibromyalgia disease, which may prolong in later age.
Conclusion:
There are many biological and non biological causes of fibromyalgia in individuals. These factors are linked with genetical factors, activities of chemicals in brains, hormones activities, gender; disturb sleep patterns and many others. Doctors access and analysis all these factors when making a diagnoses for fibromyalgia. To identify these factors may also help in reducing the chances of fibromyalgia by controlling these factors.
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