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Women Bear the Burden of Fibromyalgia
By Jeff Durbin
Various studies show that women make up the majority of those with fibromyalgia. Depending on the study, women account for 75 percent to 90 percent of the fibromyalgia cases. Why do women bear this disproportionate burden?
At this point medical science cannot say why -- but research is under way to find the reasons behind this gender gap.
Evidence suggests that women may have lower thresholds than men for painful sensory stimuli. Also, sex hormones may be involved in the stress-response system; estrogens, for example, may inhibit stress response.
Research Under Way
To learn about current research trials on fibromyalgia, check http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/c/w2b/. The site is operated by the National Institutes of Health and developed by the National Library of Medicine, and can be searched by condition, location, treatment, or research sponsor.
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