B2 H&W

B2 The heRALD LeDGeR, eDDyviLLe, kenTucky WeDnesDAy, FebRuARy 15, 2012

DR. JOHN J. SIMSCAROLYN SIMS, OFFICE MANAGER

Front, Jackie Hackney, Dental Assistant And Teresa Hastings, Receptionist Middle, Donna Crider, Dental Hygienist And Hayley Skinner, Dental Assitant

Dr. John Sims

Complete General Dentistryoffice hours by appointment

10% OFF Chidren’s Check Ups & Cleanings

Entire Month of February.(mention this ad when making appointment)

260 Commerce St. • Eddyville, KY 42038(270) 388-9712

KIM WHITEAgency Manager

SUSAN DOOM CSR

ROBIN GRAYLCSR

Home: (270) 388-2857 Kim.White@kyfb.com

Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance Companies

143 West Main StreetPO Box 690Eddyville, KY 42038Offi ce: (270) 388-9718Fax: (270) 388-4462

103 East Green StreetPrinceton, KY 42445Offi ce: (270) 365-9568Fax: (270) 365-9468

All around service, all around Kentucky®

Also offering Health InsuranceAnthem

Blue Cross/Blue Shield

Living with fibromyalgia Few look forward to getting older, and that is largely

because of the toll the aging process can take on the human body. While certain conditions may be largely associated with the senior population, middle age women are paying more and more attention to fibro-myalgia, a condition that affects roughly 4 percent of the American population and 1 percent of those living in England. Statistics Canada indicates that 390,000 Canadians have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

While those figures are considerable, there may be even more people living with fibromyalgia. That’s because fibromyalgia, despite its prevalence, remains somewhat mysterious. What is known is that the ill-ness primarily affects women and is characterized by widespread pain throughout the body.

Those with fibromyalgia experience pain in response to stimuli that for other people would not be perceived as painful. Experts surmise that elevated levels of a particular nerve chemical signal, called substance P, could be to blame for those who are affected. There is also evidence that more nerve growth factor in spi-nal fluid, as well as a decreased amount of the brain chemical serotonin, could be other influences.

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease says that stressful or traumatic events, such as car accidents, illness, cer-tain diseases, and repetitive injuries, could be linked to the onset of fibromyalgia.

The pain of fibromyalgia may be widespread, and often affects the neck, shoulders, arms, upper back, chest, and buttocks. There may be tender points that elicit more pain than other areas, clues that the condi-tion is in fact fibromyalgia. Other symptoms include fatigue, not enough non-REM sleep, anxiety,

forgetfulness, and irritable bowel syndrome.To receive a proper diagnosis, it is important for

individuals to discuss all of their symptoms with a physician. Each patient is unique, and the symptoms may come and go.

The Mayo Clinic identifies certain risk factors that increase the liklihood a person will experience fibro-myalgia.

n Gender: Females are diagnosed more than men. It is believed that female reproductive hormones may play a role in pain perception.

n Rheumatic disease: A history of arthritis or lupus could increase the risk of fibromyalgia.

n Family history: Members of the family who have fibromyalgia may pass the condition on through genetics.

Getting diagnosed may require a series of tests and questions. The American College of Rheumatology developed certain criteria for a diagnosis. These include widespread pain that lasts at least 3 months, in addition to 11 tender points on the body out of a possible 18. Some doctors will diagnose it with less stringent criteria.

Treatment is a customized approach depending on symptoms and may include analgesics that reduce pain, antidepressants that help with fatigue and sleep-lessness and anti-seizure drugs that may also reduce pain can be prescribed. Physical and mental therapy can also alleviate stress, which seems to exacerbate symptoms. Some people find success with the use of alternative therapies, such as yoga, massage and acu-puncture, to alleviate pain.

Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia, getting an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan in place can help alleviate the multitude of symptoms that seem to accompany the illness.

SPECIAL TO THE HERALD LEDGERwww.heraldledger.com

Christian Care Center

of Kuttawa

Our caring staff is committed to meeting our residents needs!

MEMBER OF KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

• Skilled, Intermediate & Personal Care Nursing Facility

• In House Rehab Speech, OT and PT• Medicare/Medicaid• Private Pay Insurance• Planned Activity Programs• Individual Nutrition Program• Beauty and Barber Shop• Regularly Scheduled Church Services• Restorative Care• Registered Dietician• Hospice and Pharmacy Services

1253 Lake Barkley Dr. • Kuttawa, KY 42055 • 270-388-2291

“Nurturing Body, Mind and Spirit”

Over Looking Beautiful Lake BarkleyMarshall County Chiropractic

Dr. Kandi WommackWe accept most insurances and fi le the insurance for you. I treat

patients of all ages, and offer gentle chiropractic treatment

with no contracts. Come in for an assessment and get adjusted the

same day. We treat low back pain, sciatica, neck pain, headaches,

arm and leg pain, shoulder pain, and numbness and tingling, etc.

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142 Vine StreetDraffenville, KY

527-0000