Do you feel tired and despite the fact that you rest enough, you can’t get a restful rest? Do you suffer constant and persistent pain, stiffness in muscles and tendons? Do you suffer from insomnia without any apparent cause? If you have answered yes to these questions, you may be among the 3-6% of the world population that suffers from fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.
Fibromyalgia
- This disease was recognized as such by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1992, and yet it remains a largely unknown disease. This is perhaps due to the fact that it is a “silent” disease with multiple and diverse symptoms that are often diagnosed separately and not as a global disease.
- Persistent extreme fatigue, stiffness in muscles and tendons as well as in the white tissue that surrounds them, psychological symptoms such as insomnia, disorders of various kinds and memory loss are some of the symptoms that this disease presents.
- In some cases, fibromyalgia patients may be unable to both work and perform some daily activities. Although there is still no definitive cure for fibromyalgia, we do have various palliatives that aim to improve the quality of life of those affected. Education and information to the patient about what is happening are of vital importance, as well as physical and mental exercise, psychological therapies and certain drugs.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
- Although many people confuse this disorder with fibromyalgia and although they share several symptoms, it is necessary to distinguish between one and the other.
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has the following main symptoms: intense physical and mental fatigue that does not diminish with rest and even worsens, fever, decreased memory, cardiac arrhythmias, sore throat, recurrent pharyngitis, hoarseness and migraines.
- Some of these symptoms may remind us of those that are triggered by flu processes, and the latest studies on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome reveal that the main cause of this disease is due to a “viral, bacterial or toxic infection”. That alters the patient’s immune system.
- Those affected by the syndrome can become bedridden without even being able to move, for which they need the help of third parties even for the most insignificant activities of daily life. This not only affects them but millions of families suffer from the disease in one way or another.
- First of all, if you suspect that you may be one of the millions of women between the ages of 20 and 50 who suffer from any of these diseases, you should consult a specialist so that they can perform the appropriate tests to diagnose them or, if necessary, rule them out.
