Is Fibromyalgia an Autoimmune Disease? Here's What Studies Say
Many are confused about whether fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disease as it affects the immune system. However, the answer might surprise you - it's not.
Fibromyalgia Not an Autoimmune Disease
For decades, fibromyalgia's very existence was controversial, but not anymore. Early on, some doctors who believed in fibromyalgia (FM) classified it as "arthritis-like."
Many medical experts suspected autoimmunity because of the condition's similarities to known autoimmune diseases such as lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, according to Verywell Health.
However, early research failed to turn up the hallmarks of autoimmune disease, including:
- Damage from the immune system attack
- Inflammation as part of the immune and healing processes
- Autoantibodies (immune system proteins that target a part of your body)
Later on, FM was thought to be a neurological or neuroimmune pain syndrome. Central sensitivity syndrome was created as a catch-all term encompassing FM and related conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), migraine, and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
FM is now recognized as a complicated, multisymptom condition. Additionally, some data suggest that it genuinely possesses autoimmune hallmarks like the following:
- It damages small-fiber neuropathy
- Inflammation in the brain and nerves of the spinal cord was observed
- It comes with several autoantibodies
What Is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, discomfort, and exhaustion. Along with sleep issues, morning stiffness, anxiety, and irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia patients may also have these symptoms. It frequently also comes with depression. Since the majority of the symptoms resemble those of other illnesses, diagnosing it can be challenging, according to the Autoimmune Association.
Based on a recent CDC report, the health condition affects about 4 million adults in the U.S., approximately 2% of the adult population, which only shows how serious it is.
Here are some symptoms of FM.
- Constant fatigue
- Sleep problems
- Pain and stiffness all over the body
- Persistent headaches, including headaches
- Depression and anxiety
- Tingling or numbness on your hands and feet
- Difficulties with concentration and memory
Fibromyalgia Weakens Immune System
According to studies, fibromyalgia patients frequently have elevated levels of cytokines (immune cells) and white blood cells, commonly seen in cases of infection. This alone demonstrates how the illness impacts the immune system, per Southern Pain Clinic.
Additional research demonstrates that this condition also impairs our brain's immune system. It accomplishes this by decreasing blood flow to the pain area of the brain, which in turn affects the neuron receptors. This ultimately results in higher pain and stress levels and a weakened immune system that cannot combat bacteria.
Specialists maintain that several of this condition's symptoms, including sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and appetite loss, may make it harder for your immune system to protect and keep you healthy.
The same goes with fibromyalgia, which typically causes a drop in the hormone cortisol, which causes an increase in estrogen levels in the body. As a result, the body produces less progesterone. Researchers have discovered that the body's fluctuating hormone levels generally weaken our immune system.
Despite the fact that fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune disease (a condition where the body attacks healthy tissues, like rheumatoid arthritis), trustworthy research agrees that this condition weakens your immune system by generating many abnormalities and irregularities.
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