Oftentimes, when fibromyalgia is diagnosed, people are prescribed medications to treat pain and other symptoms associated with the disorder. But recent studies have shown that there may be a fibromyalgia high blood pressure link and certain medications may even put a patient at risk.
Serotonin, fibromyalgia and high blood pressure
Serotonins are neuro-transmitters that pass on messages from one cell to the next via synapses. In the central nervous system, serotonin affects memory, mood and sensations of pain. A condition called Serotonin Syndrome is characterized by increased serotonin levels in the body.
For people who have fibromyalgia, serotonin syndrome can become a problem. Some of the newer and most promising treatments for fibromyalgia are serotonin-based medications. These medications provide relief from pain and muscle stiffness but they can also elevate the levels of serotonin in the body. As a result, fibromyalgia patients can feel dizzy, restless, confused, uncoordinated, sweaty and anxious.
If left untreated, this syndrome can lead to complications including high blood pressure. If allowed to progress, high blood pressure as a result of fibromyalgia medication can be life-threatening and lead to seizures and strokes.
High blood pressure as a result of fibromyalgia
In a recent study conducted by the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Wisconsin, it was found that fibromyalgia increases the risk developing metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome brings with it a host of risk factors that include stroke and high blood pressure.
In the study that involved 109 women who have fibromyalgia, it was found that they were 5.5 times more likely to develop metabolic risks than women who were healthy are. They also tended to have higher body mass index, LDL cholesterol levels, glycosylated hemoglobin and yes, high blood pressure.
Changing the way we treat fibromyalgia
The American Heart Association recently made a statement regarding the use of certain drugs to treat chronic pain, including those associated with fibromyalgia. According to the statement, the AHA advises doctors to use treatments that are non-pharmacologic as a first line of defense against fibromyalgia. Only when this approach fails should doctors consider medications to provide relief but only in a ’stepped-care’ approach. The AHA believes that chronic pain, including fibromyalgia pain, can be overcome without the need to expose patients to risks such as heart problems and high blood pressure.
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Due to the side effects of certain medications, fibromyalgia is often inadvertently linked to high blood pressure. Because of the accompanying risks involved, patients must work closely with their doctors to find the proper medications that can treat their disorder and still keep the negative risks low. Patients should be aware of the fibromyalgia high blood pressure connection so they know what to expect and to see their doctor immediately if a negative reaction is experienced.
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