| Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that has no | | | | fibromyalgia, 2% of Gulf War vets are affected |
| known cure. It is a common disease that affects | | | | by the pain characterized by the disease. This is a |
| between 2 - 6 percent of all people. Fibromyalgia | | | | significantly higher percentage. |
| is characterized by widespread pain in the | | | | Due to the fact that fibromyalgia can develop in |
| tendons, ligaments and muscles, and also causes | | | | regular citizens and non-Gulf War veterans, |
| sleeping problems which can leave the affected | | | | scientists are not certain what particular factors |
| person feeling constantly fatigued. | | | | have put Gulf War vets at a higher risk for this |
| Medical researchers are still not clear on what | | | | debilitating disease. Although it is clear that Gulf |
| causes fibromyalgia. That being said, it is believed | | | | War syndrome may be the reason, research has |
| that a number of different factors can contribute | | | | yet to confirm that this is true. |
| to the disease including problems with joints in the | | | | What is Gulf War syndrome? It is a term given |
| low back and neck, surgery, work related injuries, | | | | to illness that cause certain symptoms, some of |
| physical or emotional stress or emotional trauma. | | | | which include: chronic fatigue, migraines, dizziness, |
| These factors may explain why some Gulf War | | | | loss of balance and/or muscle control, muscle and |
| veterans suffer from Fibromyalgia. | | | | joint pain, problems with memory, shortness of |
| A health study was done on Gulf War veterans, | | | | breath, indigestion and skin problems. It is believed |
| over a decade after they served in the first | | | | that Gulf War syndrome was caused by some of |
| Persian Gulf War in 1991. It was discovered that | | | | the drug experimentation that was performed on |
| Gulf War vets are more likely to suffer from | | | | the veterans during their time of service. |
| fibromyalgia syndrome and chronic fatigue | | | | Thus, some researchers think that Gulf War |
| syndrome compared to other veterans who did | | | | syndrome may be the reason why some of the |
| not take part in that war. | | | | vets deployed in this war have developed |
| The study that came to this conclusion was done | | | | fibromyalgia. In fact, it is now being suspected and |
| over the course of three years at 16 Veteran | | | | recognized by the Defense and Veterans Affairs, |
| medical centers across America, and involved | | | | that along with fibromyalgia, amyotrophic lateral |
| over 1000 gulf war veterans and over 1000 | | | | sclerosis (Lou Gehrig 's disease), and brain cancer |
| non-Gulf War vets. What was found was that | | | | has a potentially direct connection to service |
| while just over 1% of non-gulf war vets have | | | | during the Gulf War. |