Alcohol and Fibromyalgia: to Drink or Not to Drink?
The answer to managing the pain of fibromyalgia successfully with alcohol is to consume in moderation. Moderate and low drinkers of alcohol reported fewer fibromyalgia symptoms than complete teetotalers. On the other hand, excessive indulgence reversed this effect.
According to a study, low to moderate drinkers of alcohol did better with physical functions, have better ability to work and handled the pain of fibromyalgia better than those who drank excessively or not at all. Those who drank between three and seven drinks per week suffered less pain than their low and heavy drinking counterparts.
How Alcohol Help with Fibromyalgia Pain
It was found that alcohol has an effect on the neurotransmitter, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), playing a key role in the inhibitory (calming) system in the brain. Fibromyalgia patients are proned to having low levels of GABA in their brains and hence unable to balance the excitatory acitvities in the brain leading to pain, insomnia, anxiety and other conditions. Low to moderate consumption of alcohol can help to increase the levels of GABA in the brain and reduce the fibromyalgia symptoms.
Like what you read? Pass it around:
