Today is fibromyalgia awareness day, and a current study has suggested that daytime napping raises the severity of fibromyalgia pain along with other symptoms. Many patients catch up on lost sleep with daytime napping, but this practice can actually have patients feeling worse.

The findings come from a collaborative effort by researchers in New Zealand, the U.S., Germany, and the Netherlands. The researchers collected data from online questionnaires distributed to 1,044 adults with fibromyalgia. The researchers found that longer, more frequent naps were associated with symptom severity.

The authors wrote, “Given the common use of daytime napping in people with fibromyalgia, evidence-based guidelines on the use of daytime napping in people with chronic pain are urgently needed.”

The results revealed that daytime nappers often go to bed in the afternoon without intention. Napping was mainly due to being exhausted, not feeling well, having a headache, making up for lost sleep, or experiencing pain. Younger patients were found to nap more than older ones.

The researchers found that daily nappers had increased prevalence of comorbidities and pain.

Although napping may make patients feel temporarily better for the moment, the end result is actually worsened pain and other symptoms.

Natural ways to ease fibromyalgia pain symptoms

Fibromyalgia is a painful condition, which affects a person’s overall quality of life. Symptoms can bog a patient down and have them feel as if they don’t even want to leave their bed. There are natural ways to help ease pain symptoms of fibromyalgia, including:

• Acupuncture
• Biofeedback, which was found to improve attention, reduce pain perception, tender spots, fatigue, and morning stiffness, according to a UCLA study
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps patients identify negative thoughts and helps them change them
• Craniosacral therapy, which is a type of head massage
• Mindfulness training
• Music therapy
• Physical therapy
• Pilates
• Qigong, which is a part of traditional Chinese practice that uses specific postures, breathing exercises, and mental focus
• Tai chi
• Yoga

These natural remedies not only help reduce pain, but can also ease stress, depression, and anxiety, which can all be the results of fibromyalgia.

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