Fibromyalgia Awareness

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May 12th was Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. I marked that day by introducing my new project, 101 Answers About Fibromyalgia.

This project is dedicated not only to those who have fibromyalgia, but to those who love people who have fibromyalgia. The goal is to collect at least 101 questions about the condition and gather the answers from different experts around the world.

Regular visitors to my blog know that I’ve written about fibromyalgia before, both here and for other outlets. There are many people living with fibromyalgia who have no idea that they have it or they believe they do, but they’ve not been diagnosed. So it is important to write about it and to talk about it.

According to the most recent research, a study published in 2013 found that fibromyalgia affects between 0.5 to 5 percent of the population. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States estimates that fibromyalgia affects 2% of the US population – or about 5 million adults, and that it affects women seven times more often than men.

More interesting statistics:
*While it’s not a genetic disease, 28% of children who have a parent with fibromyalgia will eventually develop it themselves.
*Adults with fibromyalgia are 3 to 4 times more likely to develop depression.
*Thirty to 40% of people with fibromyalgia must stop working or switch jobs.
*Fibromyalgia costs the U.S. economy an estimated $20 million per year.

Please visit my new site and leave your questions to be answered.

Marijke Vroomen Durning RN has written articles, promotional material, and continuing medical education (CME) for health care professionals, as well as patient information sheets and articles for the general public. She has also co-authored several books. Her blog was chosen as one of the Top 10 Canadian Health and Fitness Blogs by SheKnows Canada. Please visit 101 Answers About Fibromyalgia as well as MedHealthWriter.blogspot and MedHealthWriter.com.