There is a good reason for heart rate variations in people with fibromyalgia (FM), and research published in September 2009 suggest it’s tied to an over active nervous system (sympathetic nervous system).2 The goal of the research was to determine how to consistently measure and distinguish FM from other conditions. The researchers found that measuring heart rate variability (HRV) showed promise as one of these distinguishing measures. They noted that the HRV suggested increased sympathetic activity and decreased complexity of autonomic nervous system function in FM. This finding, that the autonomic nervous system is running wild, has been suggested as the likely culprit in many of the symptoms (IBS, Insomnia, Racing Heart) experienced by people with FM.
**A tip that may be of value for those with FM. The next time you feel your heart beginning to race, just rub your eyes and see if it helps slow your heart rate. It’s called the oculo-cardiac reflex, and it maybe beneficial in slowing your heart rate.1
The autonomic nervous system has two divisions, sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (wine and dine). These two divisions are responsible for most of the involuntary functions carried out by your body’s organs. As this research suggests, an imbalance in these two divisions can lead to some very annoying symptoms that have the potential to ruin your quality of life.
If you have fibromyalgia and are experiencing any of these problems our treatment may be able to help you. We use neurologically based care that focus on improving and normalizing brain and sympathetic activity. Our treatments work because of the brain’s neural plasticity and ability to rewire and strengthen itself. Dr. Shook is available for complimentary consultations to see if you could benefit from our care. If you would like to schedule an appointment, just give us a call at (828) 324-0800, or email Dr. Shook at drshook@alliancechiropracticcenter.com.
- R. W. Hayes. 1974. An oculo-cardiac factor in the heart rate deceleration component of the orientation response. Biological Psychology. Volume 1, Issue 4, 1974, Pages 315-320.
- Chervin RD, Teodorescu M, Kushwaha R, Deline AM, Brucksch CB, Ribbens-Grimm C, Ruzicka DL, Stein PK, Clauw DJ, Crofford LJ. 2009. Objective measures of disordered sleep in fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol. Sep;36(9):2009-16.
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