Is Sleep Associated With Fibromyalgia?

A study conducted by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology suggests that people who suffer from sleep deprivation, particularly women, have an increased risk of developing Fibromyalgia.

This longitudinal study took place over the course of ten years and involved 12,350 women as research subjects. At the beginning of the study all of the women were free of pain and other symptoms of Fibromyalgia. All participants were asked to report on their sleep patterns and problems. At the end of ten years 327 of the women had developed Fibromyalgia.

Researchers found several significant factors in this study when it comes to sleep and its relationship to Fibromyalgia. These factors include:
• Women who developed sleep problems had a significantly greater rate and risk of developing Fibromyalgia.
• As a woman ages and sleep disturbances become more severe, risk of Fibromyalgia increases.
• Women who self reported as often or always having trouble sleeping had close to 3.5 times a greater risk of Fibromyalgia as women who reported having no sleeping issues. For women 45 and older the risk of developing Fibromyalgia was more than five times greater.
• Women between 20 and 44 years old who self reported having sleep problems often or always also had a higher risk of Fibromyalgia than women in the same age group with no sleep disturbances (3 times the risk).

Because correlation does not prove causality, it cannot be said for certain that sleep deprivation causes Fibromyalgia. It can be said, however, that this study shows there is a link between sleep disturbances and Fibromyalgia. It should also be considered that the chronic pain that accompanies Fibromyalgia can in itself cause difficulty sleeping and there is also a relationship between lack of sleep and low pain threshold. So it seems like an endless cycle, especially for the women who have Fibromyalgia.

This article also points out that improvement of sleep can help with a successful treatment plan and patients should work with their health care provider as well as develop healthy sleep habits to help get enough sleep.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-michael-j-breus/fibromyalgia_b_1160932....