4. Anxiety and pain attacks

The stress of chronic pain and sudden fibromyalgia flares is worrisome and can cause anxiety in a patient. This can lead to pain attacks or cause shortness of breath in patients.

Learn the steps to taking slow deep breaths

Chaotic breathing is a problem experienced by most fibromyalgia patients. It has been observed that FMS patients are more likely to take rapid and shallow breaths, using smaller chest muscles, instead of slow and deep breathing. Deep and slow abdominal breathing has a calming effect on an individual. On the other hand, short and shallow breathing results in anxiety and tension, which can aggravate the chronic pain of fibromyalgia. In fact, your sleep cycle also gets disrupted. It is important to identify the steps to take slow and deep breathing using the large abdomen muscles:

1. Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds or while counting to 4

2. Hold your breath for 7 seconds or while counting to 7

3. Exhale slowly through your nose/mouth for 8 seconds or while count to 8

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1. Alp Çetin and Ayşen Sivri. Respiratory Function and Dyspnea in Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain. Vol. 9 , Iss. 1,2001. Accessed on: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/showCitFormats?doi=10.1300%2FJ094v09n01_02
2. Caidahl K, Lurie M, Bake B, Johansson G, Wetterqvist H. Dyspnoea in chronic primary fibromyalgia. J Intern Med. 1989 Oct;226(4):265-70. Accessed on: http://journal.publications.chestnet.org/data/Journals/CHEST/21757/246.pdf
3. http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_breathing.html