​Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body.

SYMPTOMS

• Increased sensitivity to pain

• Extreme tiredness

• Muscle stiffness

• Difficulty sleeping

• Memory and concentration

• Headaches

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

TREATMENT

Currently no cure but there are treatments to help relieve some of the symptoms and make the condition easier to live with.

• Medication

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling

• Lifestyle changes, such as exercise and relaxation

Exercise in particular has been found to have a number of important benefits for people with fibromyalgia, including helping to reduce pain.

What causes fibromyalgia?

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it's thought to be related to abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain and changes in the way the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) processes pain messages carried around the body.

• Genetics

• Physical or emotional stressful event, such as:

• Injury or infection

• Childbirth

• Breakdown of a relationship

• Death

Who's affected?

• 7 times as many women as men.

• Ages of 30 and 50

1 in 20 people may be affected but fibromyalgia can be a difficult condition to diagnose.

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