System Dysfunctions in Fibromyalgia
There are two system dysfunctions when a person has fibromyalgia – autonomic nervous system dysfunction and immune system dysfunction. In order for our bodies to be functioning at maximum potential all organs and systems must be working in perfect harmony as they were designed to work. When a person has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia two of the body’s systems are not functioning properly, the autonomic nervous system and the immune system.
The autonomic nervous system:
The autonomic nervous system is the most important system in the human body because it includes the brain and the spinal cord. These two (brain and spinal cord) are called the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS works automatically, you do not have to make your brain function or your spine to do what it needs to do for your survival. The fact that you do not consciously instruct your body to breath or your heart to beat because your CNS controls those things makes it an automatic function of the body which is why it is called your “autonomic nervous system”.
The things that this system controls (you bodily functions) are those needed for your survival. You can then see that if there is a dysfunction (something is not working as it should be) that this occurrence would bring serious consequences to the body.
Our autonomic nervous system works together with neurotransmitters and the hormones in our body in order to have your body working in the manner it was designed to work. The autonomic nervous system controls different organs and numerous body systems including regulating the temperature of the body, maintaining the function of the bladder and bowel, and maintaining the heart rate in which blood is pumped to all vital organs of the body keeping you and me alive.
The autonomic nervous system has two parts or branches. These two branches communicate with the body by sending out messages in the way of chemicals called, “neurotransmitters.
The two branches are called the “Sympathetic System”, and the “Parasympathetic System”.
Neurotransmitters those chemical substances that are used by the Autonomic system play a significant role in fibromyalgia. The neurotransmitters are made up of substance P, endorphins, serotonin, and the hormones cortisol, the growth hormone, and norepinephrine.
The Immune System:
An over-active immune system is one theory of what causes fibromyalgia. Your body’s immune system is the defensive strategy taken to protect the body against foreign cells, viruses and attacking bacteria.
The immune system is a very complex body system. There are many different types of cells and proteins that make up the immune system. The immune system is made up of “the complement system”, phagocytes, and also lymphocytes (T cells and B cells). Every cell and protein in the immune system works together doing their own roles in order to protect the body. The immune system holds many secrets to a well functioning body or an ill body.
