7:10 AM
McGhori
Women with sleep disorders have a three times greater likelihood of developing fibromyalgia, a chronic pain syndrome, than those who enjoy restful sleep.
Women with sleep disorders have a three times greater likelihood of developing fibromyalgia, a chronic pain syndrome, than those who enjoy restful sleep. These are the findings of a new Norwegian study appearing in the journal Arthritis and Rhuematism, published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).
The results indicate that the more frequently a woman experiences sleep disturbances and insomnia, the greater the likelihood she will develop fibromyalgia within a decade. While the findings have revealed a link between sleep problems and the painful disorder that affects more than 5 million people over the age of 18 in the U.S. alone, the research does not imply that fitful sleep definitively causes the condition.
As with previous studies that have shown that poor sleep habits contribute to increased inflammation and a reduction in the ability of the body to manage pain, the results of the latest study do not define a direct relationship between sleep disorders and fibromyalgia.
Study co-author Paul J. Mork, Ph.D, a researcher at Trondheim’s Norwegian University of Science and Technology, noted, “Sleep problems are just one factor that may contribute to the development of fibromyalgia," He went on to explain, “Fibromyalgia is a complex pain syndrome and there are numerous other factors that may contribute to the development of this illness.”
Among patients who suffer from fibromyalgia, more than 90 percent are women, and the majority of these women report sleep disturbances. Moreover, the more sleep disturbances they encounter, the more severe the pain they report experiencing.
To look further into the matter, the researchers followed 12,350 women from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. All of the women were aged 20 years and older and were free from chronic pain at the start of the study. While about two-thirds of the study subjects reported no sleeping difficulties, another group reported sometimes experiencing insomnia or other sleep disturbances, while a third group reported frequent sleep problems.
After a decade, findings of the analysis revealed that 327 women (2.6 percent) had developed fibromyalgia. Among those who suffered occasional sleep issues at the beginning of the study, the risk for developing the illness was doubled, while for those who frequently suffered from sleep problems were found to have a three and one-half times greater likelihood of developing the condition.
Age was also found to be a significant factor. Among participants aged 45 years and older having reported frequent sleep problems, the risk for developing fibromyalgia was found to be five times greater than that of women who suffered no sleep disturbances, while for younger women the risk was threefold.
Although the study was the largest to date in examining the relationship between sleep problems and fibromyalgia, it was not without limitations. The results were dependent upon self-reporting by the participants as to sleep issues and fibromyalgia symptoms experienced.
Also, while factors that may contribute to the condition, such as depression, body mass index, and levels of education were taken into account, no data was included regarding anxiety, which is associated with both sleep issues and fibromyalgia. In addition, menopausal status, as well as history of physical or psychological trauma was not accounted for.
While the study authors acknowledged that further studies are needed to investigate whether early detection and treatment of sleep disturbance can reduce the risk of fibromyalgia in women, they also agree that sleep problems should be taken seriously.
Mork pointed out, “In addition to being a risk factor for fibromyalgia, sleep problems are also associated with increased risk of other chronic diseases.” This includes heart disease. He also added, “Early detection and proper treatment may therefore reduce the risk of future chronic disease.”
Posted in: HEALTH
