| While the cause of fibromyalgia is not agreed upon in | | | | functioning, although the reason behind its deficiency |
| the medical community, belief that it derives from an | | | | is currently unknown. An undisputed fact about |
| oxygen metabolism dysfunction is mounting. The | | | | fibromyalgia is the spectrum of breathing difficulties |
| various proposed hypotheses about fibromyalgia's | | | | seen in people with this syndrome. Whether |
| origin are varied, ranging from an infectious viral | | | | insufficiently drawing in breath or experiencing |
| agent to a sleep disorder to an emotional disturbance. | | | | "oxygen hunger," many individuals with fibromyalgia |
| From an atomic perspective, the smallest building | | | | can't seem to get enough air. Often physicians |
| blocks of life, all of the proposed theories behind | | | | willrecommend avoidance of high-altitude locations to |
| fibromyalgia genesis can be understood. A system | | | | patients with fibromyalgia, due to the decreased |
| that isn't metabolizing oxygen (the basis of life) | | | | availability of oxygen in these locations. |
| properly, can manifest as fibromyalgia through each | | | | Decreased or inhibited blood flow means less oxygen |
| of the proposed causes. | | | | can be delivered to the muscles, causing muscular |
| Humans metabolize oxygen from air, food and water | | | | fatigue and subsequent pain and stiffness. Occurring |
| to create energy and fuel all body processes. | | | | both in the skin above tender points and in the |
| According to some experts, impaired oxygen | | | | extremities, sensations of cold go hand-in-hand with a |
| metabolism is the molecular basis of fibromyalgia's | | | | fibromyalgia diagnosis. It is no surprise that people |
| primary symptoms (muscular pain, fatigue and | | | | with fibromyalgia typically have a general intolerance |
| concentration difficulties). Specifically, oxygen poorly | | | | to cold temperatures. A decrease in local surface |
| metabolized causes fatigue and pain in muscles, | | | | temperature can be the direct result of an absence |
| memory disruption in the brain and impaired function | | | | of oxygen in the body's blood supply. |
| of all of our body's cells. | | | | Recent studies have confirmed that aerobic exercise |
| One aspect of this metabolic dysfunction occurs | | | | benefits individuals with fibromyalgia. The connection |
| from oxidation's creation of unstable molecules, also | | | | between oxygen metabolic dysfunction and exercise |
| called free radicals. Oxidation is the loss of electrons | | | | is the increase of available oxygen in the body |
| occurring when oxygen breaks down a substance | | | | created with physical exertion. A study published in |
| excessively. A natural process, oxidation is witnessed | | | | Arthritis and Rheumatology demonstrated that |
| in our environment when iron rusts and fruit rots. In | | | | individuals with fibromyalgia improved their |
| the human body, the damage incurred from free | | | | health-quality of life and strengthened their lower |
| radicals contributes to aging and the development | | | | extremities following exercise in waist-high warm |
| and perpetuation of chronic disease. Thus, preventing | | | | water. This specific type of physical activity is ideal |
| oxidative stress can significantly reduce fibromyalgia's | | | | for oxygen deficiency, because the activity increases |
| symptoms. | | | | muscular blood flow endogenously, while the warm |
| As published in Rheumatology International, | | | | temperature invigorates blood flow exogenously. |
| researchers from Turkey studied 85 women with | | | | While fibromyalgia remains a complex, somewhat |
| fibromyalgia and compared them to 80 healthy | | | | mysterious disorder, seeing the problem on the most |
| women, matched for age, weight and height. Each | | | | essential of levels can shed light onto future |
| woman's cellular damage by free radicals was | | | | treatments. Most of us take for granted the way in |
| evaluated. The results demonstrated that the women | | | | which our body metabolizes oxygen. However, |
| with fibromyalgia had significantly higher levels of | | | | evidence and logic suggest this very process we |
| cellular oxidation, compared to the controls. | | | | take for granted may be at fault in fibromyalgia |
| Antioxidants can prevent cellular oxidation by | | | | syndrome. The good news is that something can be |
| scavenging (destroying) the unstable molecules | | | | done about it, without medications or surgery. |
| before they wreck havoc. Though seemingly simple, | | | | Preventing free radical oxidation can be accomplished |
| incorporating antioxidants from the food supply or | | | | by including a wide range of antioxidants in one's diet. |
| with nutritional supplementation can stop and prevent | | | | Increasing blood flow, and thus oxygen to all parts of |
| further cellular damage. Protecting the integrity of | | | | the body occur with aerobic exercise and warm |
| muscle and brain cells can end the fibromyalgia cycle | | | | water immersion. |
| of pain, fatigue and impaired concentration. Clinicians | | | | While these ideas may not be new, now everyone |
| everywhere are recognizing this connection, and are | | | | understands why they are so effective at reducing |
| prescribing various forms of antioxidant therapy to | | | | fibromyalgia's symptoms. |
| their clients with fibromyalgia. | | | | References: |
| Another aspect of oxygen metabolism dysfunction is | | | | Ali, M, Ali O., Fibromyalgia: An |
| a lack of available oxygen. Steps can be taken to | | | | oxidative-dysoxygenative disorder (ODD), J |
| increase oxygen's availability for proper body | | | | Integrative Medicine, 1999; 3:17-37. |