Is There a Link Between the Gut and Fibromyalgia?

By Julie McCormick, Co-Owner | July 11, 2019 | Comments Off on Is There a Link Between the Gut and Fibromyalgia?

As many of 4 percent of people in the United States have fibromyalgia. It’s a disease that is difficult to diagnose. Often, people are misdiagnosed. There currently is no test for detecting the disease. Instead, doctors typically perform several tests to rule out other possible conditions.

 

Home Care in Loudoun County VA: Fibromyalgia Tips

Home Care in Loudoun County VA: Fibromyalgia Tips

 

A recent study may have found a link between gut bacteria and fibromyalgia that could lead to new ways to diagnose it.

 

-Gut Bacteria and Fibromyalgia

People typically think of bacteria as being a bad thing. However, the intestinal tract, or gut, is filled with a multitude of different kinds of bacteria. Many of them are helpful. Some aren’t. Researchers in Canada conducted a study that compared the gut bacteria of women who had fibromyalgia with that of women who did not have the disease. Their research revealed 19 kinds of gut bacteria that were present in either higher or lower amounts in the participants who had fibromyalgia. In addition, they found that when certain kinds of bacteria had particularly higher or lower levels, women tended to have more severe symptoms.

More research is needed to prove the connection. However, if the connection does prove to be relevant, the researchers think it could lead to a test for the disease. They are hopeful that it could also help to find a cure.

 

-Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Until a diagnostic test is found, doctors will have to continue to rely on symptoms and ruling out other problems to diagnose fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia don’t always have the same symptoms, though. Some people might experience some, but not others, while another person has a completely different set of symptoms.

 

A few of the symptoms that doctors generally look for are:

Pain: People who have fibromyalgia usually say their pain is like a constant, dull ache. It lasts for more than three months and is on the upper and lower parts of the body as well as both sides.

Fatigue: Fibromyalgia can make a person wake up in the morning feeling tired, even if they sleep longer than most people do. Their sleep might also be interrupted by pain or sleep disorders.

Fibro Fog: Fibro fog is the term people use to describe a dullness of the mind that makes it hard for them to focus on tasks or pay attention to what is going on around them.

 

There are many other symptoms commonly associated with fibromyalgia that can make life difficult.

Fortunately, senior care can assist older adults living with fibromyalgia to manage their condition and feel better. Senior care providers can help them to keep their homes clean and pleasant, which is important for a good quality of life and self-esteem. Senior care providers can also cook healthy, balanced meals for your aging relative, allowing them to be stronger and healthier overall. And, senior care providers can remind older adults when it is time to take medications to control symptoms, something that can be easily forgotten because of fibro fog.

 

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care in Loudoun County,  VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Call Us Today at (703) 634-9991.

 

Sources
Medicalnewstoday.com
Webmd.com
Mayoclinic.org

 

 

 

Julie McCormick, Co-Owner
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