Is Fibromyalgia In Your Genes? Find Out Now!

Families of those suffering from fibromyalgia have long thought that there must be a genetic link to the disease.

They would argue that it only stood to reason that so many people in one family were suffering. Now, new research hints at a genetic connection.

The research focuses on a gene that affects the capacity to feel pain, and the tentative findings point to the possibility that this gene causes an imbalance in the nervous system that causes people to read pain differently.

The excitement this potential finding is causing is palpable within the fibromyalgia community because it is one step closer to a cure.

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Oxidative stress

According to at least one new study, oxidative stress is a source of the problem (and potentially the source of the treatment).

It is one of the stressors that trigger the gene in some family members and not others. (The other stressors can originate from physical, emotional, or psychological trauma. Any of these stressors can make oxidative stress worse.)

The root of the word “oxidative” is oxygen, which we all know is vital to our lives. We need adequate oxygen intake to provide energy for the millions of interactions that happen constantly in our bodies, in every cell.

The oxidative process is normal and necessary, but when there is a glitch in the system, free radicals are formed, and they can lead to cellular damage.

One of the ways this has been described is to compare it to the formation of rust on an iron pipe. If the pipe is left outdoors too long, exposed to rain, wind, sun and so forth, oxidation occurs, and that causes rust.

If the body is exposed to “elements” that we ingest, cigarette smoke, alcohol, unhealthy foods or radiation for a prolonged period of time, free radicals can be formed. They can also be prolonged by air pollution, prescription and over the counter medications and stress.

Fibromyalgia is thought to be one of the diseases that can be formed by exposure to these toxins or stress if something isn’t done to relieve the stress. It will only get worse unless an antidote is found.

The new research that points to free radicals (oxidative stress) as a possible cause of fibromyalgia also opens the door to a potential treatment in the form of antioxidants. Normally, the body produces antioxidants as enzymes that work together to eventually neutralize the free radicals.

These antioxidants can also repair damages, improving the body’s chances of fighting off future infections.

Antioxidants as Treatment

Fibromyalgia sufferers may benefit from changing their diets to include foods rich in anti-oxidant nutrients like beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, selenium, and Vitamins A, C, and E.

Foods rich in these nutrients, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts, and some meats, fish, and poultry, are all on any list you will find that has to do with a healthy diet from the point of view of most research and programs intent on treating any kind of disorder.

Finding Harmony, Letting go of Stress

Evidence is mounting that our fast-paced lives cause stress that makes our bodies vulnerable. It makes sense to take control now by eating better, exercising, and adopting a practice that puts you in a much calmer space.

If you or someone you know has fibromyalgia, there is even more reason to begin now. The goal is to lead a stress-free life, but like any goal, it has some steps.

We suggest you start with these and build on them as each new skill is mastered or routine becomes second nature:

Get regular sleep. The body needs sleep to be able to heal and function at its best. People with fibromyalgia are often fatigued by the work the body is trying to do to fight off the disease.

We can assist by establishing regular routines (going to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time) and cutting out activities that interfere with sleep. These include nicotine, coffee/caffeine at night, and refined sugars.

[Some guidance also suggests that using our technology (Ipads, etc.) late into the evening and just before bedtime may add to the inability to sleep.]

Decide on a “practice” to reduce stress. Whether it is yoga, meditation, deep breathing, or walking, pick one and begin to incorporate it into your daily routine.

Start with one or two yoga postures or a fifteen-minute walk. Establishing a routine is the most important thing you can do, no matter how much time you invest each day.

Eat a Healthy Diet. Without endorsement, a good place to look for dietary guidance is an article about the Mediterranean diet. The foods recommended are high in antioxidants.

Learn all you can. Educate yourself about what might be going on in your body. Stay in touch with the website Fibromyalgia Treating as your resource for information on what others are doing to fight their disease and the newest research on causes.

Let your doctor know if a symptom is radically worse. Pain causes stress, and stress seems to cause fibromyalgia, which itself causes pain, and there we are again.

Even though there is no “cure” for fibromyalgia yet, it’s best to get some help to take the edge off of a symptom or two that has flared up.

If fibromyalgia runs in families, there is no time like the present to get everyone you love to join you in making a lifestyle change that will reduce stress in your life.

With everyone sleeping and eating well, practicing some form of yoga, meditation, or the like, and being willing and open to discuss what is going on, your family will be well on its way to being healthier and keeping the free radicals in their place and out of their bodies.