lady gaga 5 years ago clearly She has fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes her “severe pain,” tour cancellation during her music career.
Fibromyalgia is a long-term disorder that “causes pain and tenderness throughout the body.” National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesHowever, while its effects can be severe in those who are ill, some do not consider it an actual medical condition because it cannot currently be diagnosed by medical tests. , is the only explanation left, so people are often diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
Gaga, whose real name is Stephanie Germanotta, has expressed frustration at people who don’t see the condition as a real disease. interview with Vogue.
“I get so frustrated with people who don’t believe fibromyalgia is real,” the singer and actress said. “People need to be more compassionate. Chronic pain is no joke. And Every day I wake up not knowing how I feel.”
She’s not the only one. Fibromyalgia affects approximately 4 million adults in the United States, or her 2% of the country’s adult population. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CNBC Make It, a fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome expert at the Icahn School of Medicine in Mount Sinai, New York, is helping to better understand the condition and its impact on those who live with it every day. We spoke with Benjamin Natelson, Professor of Neurology. yoke.
Fibromyalgia Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
of CDC defines fibromyalgia as “whole body pain” or widespread pain. If you’ve had several tests and no medical explanation and feel tenderness in different parts of your body, you could also have fibromyalgia, Natelson said.
“For years, doctors would just tell patients that nothing was wrong or that it was all in their heads,” he says.
There are currently no tests to detect this disease. Fibromyalgia is diagnosed based on what the person feels and tells the doctor. American College of RheumatologyOther conditions can be ruled out using laboratory tests and X-rays, the organization adds.
For some people, it raises questions about whether fibromyalgia is a real condition or just a blanket of symptoms of chronic pain of unknown origin. As we learned more, the definition of the case changed repeatedly.
The most commonly observed symptoms now overlap with those of chronic fatigue syndrome, says Natelson. Chronic fatigue syndrome is an illness with long-term effects such as severe fatigue, sleep disturbances, and difficulty concentrating. CDC.
“Whether these two diseases are the same or different has been the focus of my research over the past decade,” he says. “And while there’s a lot of data that suggests they’re different, there are also similarities between the two.”
symptoms
The main symptom of fibromyalgia is generalized pain, which medical tests cannot link to other conditions, says Natelson. Living with the condition can lead to symptoms such as: I have.
- have trouble falling asleep
- Malaise
- pain leading to disability
The chronic nature of the disease can also cause “mental and emotional distress,” Natelson added. For those who haven’t, he says, having chronic pain subside and reappear can be emotionally draining.
cause
What Causes Fibromyalgia? That’s a tricky question: The cause of the condition is unknown, says Natelson, who says there are several known risk factors for the condition. CDC:
- Most people with this condition are diagnosed when they are middle-aged or older. However, fibromyalgia can affect anyone regardless of age, including children.
- If you have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, you are more likely to develop fibromyalgia.
The CDC also points to a few more possible links to developing fibromyalgia, but stresses that more research is needed to confirm or understand the link. I’m here.
- sex. A woman is twice as likely to develop the condition as a man.
- A stressful or traumatic event, such as a car accident
- Repetitive injuries or repetitive stress injuries to certain joints
- diseases such as viral infections
- family history
- obesity
treatment
According to Dr. Natelson, fibromyalgia can be treated in several ways. CDC:
- Medications, including prescription drugs — the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved three medications for this condition — and over-the-counter pain relievers
- Cardio and strength exercises
- patient education course
- Stress management practices such as yoga, meditation, and massage
- Improving sleep habits for better rest
- Treatment for the condition’s potential mental health effects
“The best thing a patient with pain all over the body can do on their own is to walk for 30 minutes every other day,” says Natelson. “Gentle physical conditioning. If you have really severe fibromyalgia, I focus on the word ‘gentle.’ It’s great for relieving discomfort and making you feel better.”
Please note: Do not self-diagnose or self-medicate if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Test for any conditions or health problems.
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