This month the National Fibromyalgia Association is focusing on reaching for goals and showing FM patients how to set those goals.
It’s that time of year: looking back at the previous 12 months, we see how far we progressed (or didn’t); and looking ahead at the next 12 months, we think about changes we’d like to institute in our lives, and goals we’d like to achieve. Losing weight, increasing flexibility, decreasing prescriptions, improving sleep—there are many goals that people with FM are likely to have. But the question is how does one set an achievable goal?
What do building a house, planning a vacation, and losing 10 pounds have in common? All these goals start with an idea that requires planning steps, implementing the steps of the plan, and revising the plan along the way to accomplish the intended result. When you have an illness, the key to managing a goal-oriented life is to enjoy the journey by setting goals that enhance your daily living without creating undue stress or increased discomfort—and by being flexible. Goal setting is a tool that we can use to develop new, positive, fun habits while enjoying life at our own pace.
Members of the European Parliament Adopt Written Declaration on FM
Written Declaration 69/2008 on fibromyalgia has succeeded in the European Parliament after finding the necessary quorum of signatories of 393 deputies giving their support. The Written Declaration was initiated by five key Members of European Parliament (MEPs) active on health at the European Parliament: Mr. Adamou, Ms. Brepoels, Ms. Di?kuté, Mr. Popa and Ms. Sinnott. These MEPs decided to launch the declaration during the celebratory meeting of the first European Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in May 2008, organized by the European Network of Fibromyalgia Associations (ENFA).
Chronic Lyme disease (CLD) and fibromyalgia (FM) have developed into widespread epidemics. Diagnosis and treatment of these diseases remain areas of controversy. Studies examining personality and coping styles in FM have provided mixed results. A deficiency in the current literature remains regarding stress, personality, and coping styles in CLD and FM.
A study recently published in BMC Research Notes looked at levels of urinary cortisol in women with fibromyalgia, hoping to prove that the lack of strength or vigor in people with fibromyalgia is associated with below-normal levels of urinary cortisol, expressing a deficit of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Comparing urinary cortisol levels of 47 women with FM, aged 29 to 64 years, with levels in 58 women of comparable age who do not have FM, the researchers confirmed that women with FM have significantly lower urinary cortisol levels than women who do not have fibromyalgia.
Very interesting article, especially the study on Urinary Cortisol Levels in FM. Thankyou for sharing this !