 Have You Been Sphygmomanometized? If you're like me, the words in medical articles send you straight to the dictionary. This week my favorite FM abstract is a report on 'Sphygmomanometry-evoked Allodynia.' That's two Google® searches right there.
And yet the take-away message from this article may be important for you and your doctor. 'Sphygmomanometry' means use of a cuff to record your blood pressure. 'Allodynia' is pain. The study suggests that pain experienced during blood pressure testing can be a good first step in screening for Fibromyalgia.
What else do this week's articles have to offer?
n Women with FM are 560 percent more likely than others to have pre-diabetes 'insulin resistance syndrome.'
n Sleep studies found "a large proportion of women with FM" had sleep apnea, and many had undetected restless legs syndrome.
n Preliminary research at Harvard indicated transcranial direct electrical stimulation (tDCS) had a promising impact on FM pain.
n Bright light therapy helped 57 percent of patients with winter depression.
The research community's interest in FM seems to increase week-by-week, as pieces of the Fibromyalgia puzzle fall into place. And we can expect much more in 2007, as the scores of new FM and CFS research papers presented at January's IACFS conference make it to print.
But if you're interested in the latest research, why wait? Two full days of the conference are devoted to FM/CFS patients and advocates - and will offer everything from treatment news to disability guidance and media/fund-raising training. You will not want to miss it. more
Wishing warmth and cheer for each of you, Rich Carson
ProHealth Founder and CFS Patient | 
Patient Conference: January 10-12 
