Fibromyalgia is a mysterious condition and there is no single treatment that works for everybody. In most cases, a combination of approaches is used, tailored to meet a particular patient’s needs. Nevertheless, most patients are satisfied with even just a 10% reduction in symptoms. That said, here are some lifestyle changes that can help you cope up more effectively with fibromyalgia symptoms, mainly fatigue, and pain. These may be small changes you can incorporate into your daily life, but they sure have a significant impact in helping you prevail over fibromyalgia.
Top 5 Lifestyle Changes to Help with Fibromyalgia
Exercise More
It may sound counterproductive to go out and there and exercise when your body is aching all over, and you’re feeling down and out due to fatigue. However, studies have shown that exercise is one of the most if not the most efficient component in managing fibro. Regular physical activity doesn’t only reduce fibro symptoms such as pain, but also prevents the wasting away of muscles, as well as improve emotional function.
The stress from fibromyalgia symptoms can result in less activity, which in return may cause social isolation. Exercise increases energy and releases feel-good hormones, helping you feel more vibrant and excited to engage in your daily activities. You can always go to the gym and hire a trainer, but if we’re talking about exercises that you can do at home, try a combination of stretching and aerobic exercises. Swimming is also good exercise since it doesn’t put much pressure on the joints.
Eat Well
You’re probably well aware of the fact that you should maintain a balanced diet if you’re going to maintain excellent health, but with fibromyalgia, you really need to watch what you eat. Some food can worsen the symptoms of fibromyalgia, and you’d want to avoid them at all cost. These are foods high in caffeine, as well as highly processed foods.
On the other hand, you should maintain a diet that’s high in fiber and low in fat. Focus more on fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Add more foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids to your diet, too. Salmon, canola oil, flaxseed, and walnut are just some of the foods that are rich in omega-3.
Sleep Better
I know that restorative sleep is hard to come by for people suffering from fibromyalgia. However, getting more and better sleep can help a lot in reducing fibromyalgia symptoms, particularly pain. If you can, try to get at least 8 hours of sleep. For better sleep quality, you can use apps such as sleepyti.me that lets you schedule the time you go to bed and the time you wake up to make sure you’re well-rested the following morning.
If you’re having trouble with sleep, start establishing pre-bedtime habits such as meditating, reading a book, and making the room conducive to sleep. Avoid stimulating activities, too, a few hours before bedtime so your mind is rested and ready to snooze.
Manage Stress
Evidence proves that individuals suffering from fibromyalgia have a higher tendency to be stressed as a result of daily encounters and conflicts than people without the condition. You’ll be able to deal more effectively with your symptoms if you can learn to manage stress in your life. It’s good to know that there are a lot of stress-reduction and relaxation techniques you can use to help improve in managing chronic pain as a result of fibromyalgia.
We’ve already mentioned some of these methods such as meditation, which for the past few years have been accepted as a useful relaxation technique. It reduces heart rate and blood pressure, as well as improve sleep and lessens pain.
Try Alternative Treatments
Don’t be afraid to try alternative treatments. A lot of fibromyalgia patients have sought out alternative therapies considering the difficulty of treating the condition. Chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy are just some of the approaches available that a lot of fibromyalgia patients have tried and tested to bring some benefits. The use of herbal and natural supplements is also widespread among many fibromyalgia patients nowadays.
However, you also need to keep in mind, that any treatment method not approved by medical professionals have higher risks or potential side effects. For this reason, I suggest that you always check with your doctor before trying any alternative treatment, especially if it’s new and have no data to back it up.
Fibromyalgia may be a condition that’s difficult to understand, but it doesn’t have to control your life. Try these five lifestyle changes and start overcoming your symptoms and living a healthier and happier life today!
About the Author
Mary Ross is a mom of four. She loves using her energy to help other people improve their lives. She started The Impressive Kids to help first-time moms and dads overcome the challenges of being new parents. She’s a foodie, and always finds time to cook for her family.
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