| Are you suffering the symptoms of menopause? | | | | The worst part about fibromyalgia is that there is |
| If they include symptoms such as muscle | | | | no cure as of yet, only treatments that can help |
| stiffness and soreness, tenderness around the | | | | ease the symptoms. Treatments vary according |
| knees, elbows, hips and other joints, or pain and | | | | to varying symptoms but include certain exercises |
| numbness in the hands or feet, then you may | | | | specific to affected areas, pain relieving |
| have the beginning of what's known as | | | | medications or muscle relaxants to help ease |
| fibromyalgia. What is it? It isn't a disease as such | | | | discomfort, and in some cases injections of |
| but a condition that affects the joints and soft | | | | analgesics to specific areas. There are other |
| tissue including the muscles, and also includes | | | | therapeutic treatments such as massage therapy, |
| fatigue in most cases. It also affects mostly | | | | heat therapy, and a new therapy called |
| women, which leads many doctors to believe it | | | | hydrotherapy which involves movements in the |
| may be related to menopause. | | | | water that help with circulation and don't involve |
| The reason many doctors and others believe that | | | | putting pressure on the joints like other forms of |
| fibromyalgia is related to menopause is that the | | | | exercise. |
| majority of sufferers are not only women, but | | | | Some doctors and health specialists think that diet |
| women over the age of 40 (approximately 80% | | | | can play a role in helping to prevent fibromyalgia, |
| according to statistics). So how are they related? | | | | eating more holistic foods that are full of nutrients |
| That remains to be seen, but many researchers | | | | such as phytochemicals and antioxidants, for |
| believe that an imbalance in hormones is partly to | | | | instance. Eat more organic foods such as fresh |
| blame, even though they cannot find evidence of | | | | fruits, fresh vegetables, and even dried fruits. |
| which ones specifically as of yet. Current focus is | | | | Drink plenty of water each day, which many |
| on the brain chemicals that control sleep cycles | | | | people hear about but fail to follow through on, |
| and mood, hormones released by the pituitary | | | | make it a habit. Some dieticians believe that |
| which are sensitive to estrogen, and possibly even | | | | lowering your intake of sodium rich foods and |
| changes in growth hormones. This link is likely | | | | completely eliminating additives such as |
| because many women who suffer fibromyalgia | | | | monosodium glutamate (MSG's) and artificial |
| are approaching menopause, have recently had a | | | | sweeteners like Aspartame can help to relieve |
| baby and are over 35 years of age, and women | | | | symptoms of fibromyalgia. Recent studies show |
| who have had either a tubal ligation or a | | | | that the practice of eating a vegan diet may |
| hysterectomy. | | | | even help alleviate symptoms. |