The Inflammatory Side of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is very complex in presentation and in causes, but one study demonstrates that there is a link between fibromyalgia and the inflammatory process.

Lucas et al. found that hormones and other biological markers associated with inflammation were found to be present where they normally were not, or higher than normal in the cerebro-spinal fluid, blood and skin of fibromyalgia sufferers.  They do not say that fibromyalgia is an inflammatory disorder, but that inflammation plays a critical role in its onset and progression.

So what does that mean to patients with fibromyalgia?  It means that keeping your body's pro- and anti-inflammatory processes balanced, may help limit flare-ups and prevent some of the fibromyalgia related inflammatory disorders, such as migraines, cystitis and irritable bowel syndrome.   

A huge part of this is proper nutrition, supplementation and exercise.  If you suffer with fibromyalgia and have not found someone to help guide you through this process, find a functional medicine provider that can find out what your specific needs are and start the journey to restoring your health.

What You Need to Know About Magnesium Deficiency

The more that magnesium is studied the more of its many roles that are discovered.  Low levels of magnesium have been associated with muscle weakness, chronic fatigue, muscle cramps, heart problems, elevated blood pressure, hypersensitivity of the nerves, mental disturbances, and depression. Why does magnesium effect so many different areas of your body?  Magnesium's role is to help your enzymes work correctly and in turn enzymes work in every cell of your body to make them function correctly.

The causes of low magnesium can be varied.  In our world of processed and modified foods many Americans are not getting the quality of food that they need.  The best foods for magnesium are green leafy vegetables, fish, meats, and fruits.  Magnesium is depleted by alcohol consumption and very high fat diets.  So, if you are concerned that you are low in magnesium, increase you fruits and vegetables and reduce your alcohol and fat, never a bad idea anyway.

Of course there are causes that are not as easily helped.  Inflammatory conditions of the small and large intestines such as irritable bowel syndrome or gluten sensitivity can lead to an inability to absorb magnesium.  Or on the other side certain conditions can cause the kidneys to excrete magnesium at a rate greater than is absorbed.  Similarly heart medications, stomach acid blockers, and antibiotics can all decrease magnesium levels.  If you suspect that this maybe the case, I can use Functional Medicine testing to determine what the real cause is.