If you have had this experience before, you will know that the symptoms around fibromyalgia and the heart can be very scary. Fibromyalgia seems to come with every imaginable pain, including chest pain.
Many will go to the emergency room at least once because they think they have a heart attack. This is more likely to happen to those who have not yet been diagnosed with fibromyalgia because they do not know how fibrolaryngeal pain looks and are more likely to believe that they lack heart.
The danger for people with diagnosed fibromyalgia is the risk of not seeking medical attention for serious heart disease because they assume that pain is part of fibromyalgia. That’s why it’s important for everyone to understand how fibromyalgia and heart muscle interact and when medical treatment is needed.
It goes without saying that the heart is really the most important muscle in the body.
Fibromyalgia pain in the chest – various causes
One of the main symptoms of fibromyalgia is chronic pain in many areas of the body. A common symptom that we often talk about is costochondritis. The pain comes from the inflammation in the cartilage that connects the ribs and the sternum. The pain usually affects the side of the chest and can cause waves of pain that are very similar to a heart attack. The good news is that it does not endanger your life.
With fibromyalgia, you may also feel pain in other areas of the chest, as well as in the shoulders and arms. It can be sharp, throbbing, burning or pulling. Although heart attacks tend to appear and disappear in a short time, this pain can last for days or even weeks. Some patients with fibromyalgia suffer from chest pain for months or years.
Also check our article about the pain in the chest at any time to learn about other causes of pain in the chest area.
Fibromyalgia and heart failure
Thoracic pain in fibromyalgia is often life threatening, but it is not always the case. Research shows that it is common for patients with heart failure to also have fibromyalgia. A study of 57 patients with heart failure found that more than 20% of participants met the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia. The determination that the severity of heart failure tends to coincide with the severity of the symptoms of fibromyalgia is even more disturbing.
Research has also shown that patients with fibromyalgia are more likely to suffer from several diseases related to central nervous system sensitivity or dysfunction. This includes heart failure, TMJ, and irritable bowel disease. This supports the idea that fibromyalgia is caused by a highly sensitive central nervous system that registers pain when it is not justified.
Some scientific research shows that fibromyalgia is related to the variability of heart rate. For example, many patients suffer from tachycardia, which occurs when the heart beats abnormally fast. This is just a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system that is commonly observed in people with fibromyalgia. The connection is so strong that some professionals recommend checking the inconsistency of the heart rate as a diagnostic tool for fibromyalgia.
Does fibromyalgia cause heart failure?
Although there may be a relationship between fibromyalgia and heart problems, there is no evidence that fibromyalgia is the cause of heart failure or any other cardiac dysfunction. Heart attacks can be the result of many factors, including clogged arteries, which are caused by poor nutrition, smoking and obesity. Stress in the body is also an important factor, and remember what I often say, that living with a fibro in itself can be a form of stress for the body.
Fibromyalgia can increase the risk of cardiac dysfunction in patients, especially when chronic pain, fatigue and sleep disorders cause an increased imbalance between chemicals, hormones, etc. We know that cortisol levels (adrenal glands) become unbalanced when we do not recover. The dream, and also affects the heart.
Fibromyalgia is also likely to intensify the symptoms of a heart disorder due to the sensitivity of the nervous system. This is similar to patients with fibromyalgia who experience more pain than non-fibro in daily life.
Pain fibro or infarction?
If you or someone you love has chest pain, it is best to consult an emergency doctor. I say it often, but yes, it is always better to ask for help when you do not need it than to eliminate pain as a symptom of fibromyalgia, when in reality it is something more serious.
In general, the pain associated with fibromyalgia tends to last longer than a heart attack. If you press the pain point, the pain of fibromyalgia will probably intensify when triggered by trigger points. The pain caused by a heart attack will not intensify if pressed lightly. Pain related to fibromyalgia does not cause radiation pain in the arms or back, which is common during a heart attack.
Since there may be a link between cardiac events and fibromyalgia, it may be useful to request a stress test or other cardiac diagnostic tests to eliminate potential problems. This is the only way to know for sure that the chest pain you are feeling is actually caused by fibromyalgia instead of a serious, life-threatening heart problem.
Symptoms of a heart attack can include chest pain and pressure, pain in the arms, jaw pain, sweating, nausea, and difficulty breathing. If you experience these symptoms suddenly, seek help immediately. And, as you can see, almost all of these symptoms can also manifest themselves in fibromyalgia. Therefore, one must always be cautious.
Also, as I said at the beginning of this article, the heart is the most important muscle in the body. Therefore, it is important that you consult with your doctor before taking muscle relaxants and any other medication that may interfere with the normal rhythm and function of your heart.
Monitor your heart at home
Now you can follow the evolution of your heart in the comfort of your home or wherever you are.
The kardiamobile device is easy to use and is suitable for anyone with heart problems or at risk. You can also control your blood pressure at home if this is also a problem.
Toxins and heart disease.
It is important to avoid as many toxins as possible in people with fibromyalgia. The potential of all diseases can be greater when people are constantly exposed to environmental toxins. More and more studies regularly report the link between heart disease and the toxins to which we are exposed. Here you can find more information about the chemical sensitivity in fibromyalgia.
Do you have rapid heartbeat, sweating, nausea, headache, or increased blood pressure when exposed to toxic environments? It is common and it is often the way our body tells us that we should stay away from these harmful toxins. This can happen in a clothing store, restaurant, shopping center, veterinary clinic or any other place where high levels of chemicals are commonly used.
A smile of the heart / gratitude.
Remember what I say often. “A smile from the heart is a good place to start” , I invented this phrase many years ago because I realized that gratitude and a sincere smile can do much to maintain a healthy chemical balance in our health. body.
It feels good to smile from the bottom of my heart. This is not based on our situation, but on the fact that we are preparing to overcome the situation in all possible ways. It is not a question of perfection or of mind above matter.