PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The way the brain perceives pain can vary from person to person, and that can be a problem for some people.
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that is associated with widespread musculoskeletal pain, poor sleep and feelings of fatigue. It is estimated that 2% of the population suffers from it.
It attacks women at least twice as often as men. The problem can occur in both adults and children.
A new report in the American Family Physician Journal suggests it may be caused by the way the brain perceives pain. Functional brain imaging performed in people with fibromyalgia has pointed to an imbalance between what are called excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, which send signals to the brain.
People with fibromyalgia have a dramatic response, and this impacts how they perceive pain.
The hope is that this new knowledge will lead to improved treatments.
Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.





