Do sleep disorders cause fibromyalgia?
-
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Sleep disorders are common with fibromyalgia, but they don't cause it. No one is sure exactly what causes fibromyalgia, but people who have the condition are probably genetically susceptible to developing it. What often happens is that an illness, an accident, or an emotional trauma triggers the onset of fibromyalgia. Sleep problems often accompany fibromyalgia, but they have not been shown to trigger the condition.Sleep disorders are common with fibromyalgia, but they don't cause it. No one is sure exactly what causes fibromyalgia, but people who have the condition are probably genetically susceptible to developing it. What often happens is that an... More -
The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but poor sleep definitely plays a role in the condition. If you have fibromyalgia, you may notice that your symptoms tend to flare up when you don't get a good night of sleep. Similarly, you may feel that you are getting plenty of sleep but still waking up tired. While it's impossible to say whether or not certain sleep disorders can actually cause fibromyalgia, they definitely have a tendency to aggravate the condition. Two of the most common are sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome. If you have either of these conditions, they may be disrupting your sleep without you even knowing. Talk to your doctor about possible treatment options.
The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but poor sleep definitely plays a role in the condition. If you have fibromyalgia, you may notice that your symptoms tend to flare up when you don't get a good night of sleep. Similarly, you may feel that you... More -
Celeste Cooper answered:There has been debate in the past as to whether disordered sleep was a cause of FM. Generally the consensus these days is that dysfunctional or non-restorative sleep is a comorbid condition of FM, but not the cause.
While sleep disorders do not cause FM, they can be a great aggravator to the pain and cognitive deficit in FM. If you suspect you have a sleep disorder, have unrefreshing sleep, can't get or stay asleep, and you have FM, you need a sleep study. Then you need someone who understands that if you don't have sleep apnea, or obstructive airway, it doesn't mean your sleep study is normal. Many miss the fact that absent stages of sleep or periodic limb movement (the cohort to restless leg syndrome) can have an equal effect on sleep quality. If this is the case, there are treatments available and sleep specialist doctors.
Inadequate sleep does not equate to quantity of sleep. One can sleep 8 hours and still not be sleeping effectively. Sleep is required for cellular restoration, and many believe that this is a factor in FM, our bodies do not repair during sleep like they should.
Find out more about this book: Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofa...
There has been debate in the past as to whether disordered sleep was a cause of FM. Generally the consensus these days is that dysfunctional or non-restorative sleep is a comorbid condition of FM, but not the cause. While sleep disorders do not... More -
Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum answered:Fibromyalgia can be triggered by dozens of different problems. These can include sleep apnea (consider this if you are overweight, snore, have high blood pressure, and fall asleep easily during the day) and restless leg syndrome (where your legs are jumping at night). Interestingly, treating even mild iron deficiency (despite normal blood tests) can be very effective at relieving restless leg syndrome.
Fibromyalgia can be triggered by dozens of different problems. These can include sleep apnea (consider this if you are overweight, snore, have high blood pressure, and fall asleep easily during the day) and restless leg syndrome (where your legs are... More -
Dr. Michael Breus answered:There’s some important news for millions of people -- most of them women -- who suffer from the syndrome fibromyalgia: a recent study suggests that sleep deprivation is associated with an increased risk of developing fibromyalgia.
The study was conducted at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. The study included 12,350 women. At the outset of the study, all the women were free of physical impairment, musculoskeletal pain and fibromyalgia. A decade later, 327 of the women -- 2.6% of the study population -- had developed fibromyalgia. Researchers asked all the women in the study to report on their sleep habits and their sleep problems. They found that women who reported sleep problems were significantly more likely to have developed fibromyalgia than women without sleep problems. The researchers also found that the risk of fibromyalgia increases with a woman’s age, and with the severity of sleep problems.
It’s important to make clear that this study does not prove that sleep deficiencies cause fibromyalgia. What it does do -- for the first time -- is establish a strong connection between sleep problems and fibromyalgia by showing the increased risk of fibromyalgia that is associated with lack of sleep.There’s some important news for millions of people -- most of them women -- who suffer from the syndrome fibromyalgia: a recent study suggests that sleep deprivation is associated with an increased risk of developing fibromyalgia. The... More
