Fibromyalgia afflicts approximately 5% of the population. The majority of these are women. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome. The most common Fibromyalgia symptoms and diagnostic tool are the widespread pain. The pain associated with fibromyalgia can range in intensity from mild to severe. The severe end of the spectrum can be debilitating and disabling. In its milder forms, fibromyalgia is similar to the flu. The muscles and other soft tissues of the body just ache constantly.

Fatigue is another common ailment of fibromyalgia. The widespread pain causes sleep disturbances in those afflicted. People with fibromyalgia have trouble entering into deep sleep. Deep sleep is when the body regenerates and restores itself. Without enough deep sleep, the body begins to shut down. Lack of sleep causes a person with fibromyalgia to become more and more fatigued over time. Also, since the body is not regenerating, the pain of fibromyalgia worsens. As the pain worsens, it is more and more difficult for a fibromyalgic to enter into deep sleep. Thus, it is a vicious cycle that is extremely hard to break.

People with fibromyalgia also suffer from chronic headaches. These headaches come in two main forms, but a person with fibromyalgia can also suffer from a combination of the two. The first type, called tension headaches, is caused by the continuous contractions of the muscles in the neck, upper back, shoulders and jaw. These contractions cause the muscles to tense. The tension leads to pain beginning in the neck and spreading to the temples. The other type, migraines, is caused by the constriction of the blood vessels. Stress and anxiety causes the blood vessels to slow circulation to the brain. Then, suddenly, the vessels dilate again which causes the pain.

Costochondritis is a less common, yet scary, symptom of fibromyalgia. Costochondritis causes chest pains that mimic a heart attack. These pains are caused by the inflammation of the cartilage between the rib cage and the sternum.

However, it can be a frightening symptom since the pain associated with costochondritis is similar to that of a heart attack or stroke.

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