HEALTH

TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Is there a specific test to de-finitively diagnose fibro-

myalgia? If not, how do doctors confidently diagnose this disor-der?

ANSWER: No one test can be used to diagnose fibromyalgia. But unlike in the past, fibromy-algia is no longer a diagnosis of exclusion, which means that all other conditions that could trig-ger similar symptoms are ruled out before fibromyalgia can be diagnosed. Instead, the diag-nosis is based on specific symp-toms, and it’s now understood that fibromyalgia can, and often does, coexist with other chronic pain disorders.

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by pain all over the body. Fibromyalgia pain is wide-spread and amplifies existing pain generators, such as arthri-tis. People with fibromyalgia of-ten have widespread, migratory muscle aches without any un-derlying muscle injury, and they generally experience pain more intensely than others. Research-ers believe this widespread, am-plified pain occurs because fibro-myalgia affects the way the brain processes pain signals.

Fibromyalgia pain is not the same in everyone with this dis-order. Some people may have ex-treme skin sensitivity to gentle pressure. Some may have tender finger joints without redness or swelling. Others may have sig-nificant tenderness of the mus-cles of the upper back and neck.

Because fibromyalgia tends to amplify pain generated by other conditions, patients with lupus or rheumatoid arthritis may have much greater joint pain than would be expected based on objective measures of inflam-mation. One of the hallmarks of fibromyalgia is pain out of pro-portion to the degree of tissue injury.

A fibromyalgia diagnosis now is made based on symptoms of widespread pain, fatigue, un-refreshing sleep and cognitive impairment — typically after a person has had widespread pain for more than three months. “Widespread” is defined as pain on both sides of the body, as well as above and below the waist.

Part of what makes diagnosing fibromyalgia difficult is that its symptoms tend to be inconsis-tent, waxing and waning over time. Also, the disorder can be hard to distinguish from other conditions. For patients with chronic widespread pain, if the pain is more intense and per-sistent than would be expected based on the amount of tissue injury present, then fibromyal-gia could play a role. A common example would be a patient with well-treated rheumatoid arthri-tis without evidence of joint in-flammation or erosions who has severe joint pain.

If fibromyalgia is suspected, it’s important to be evaluated by a specialist with expertise in car-ing for people with the disorder. A timely and accurate fibromy-algia diagnosis is vital because it can become debilitating and disrupt daily life significantly. Although there is no cure, early recognition of fibromyalgia can reduce the need for further diag-nostic testing to explain chronic, widespread pain.

The path to proper diagnosis

MAYO CLINIC Q&A

Doctors use differing

methods to confirm

fibromyalgia

6 teas to try that can settle your stomachTHE DAILY MEAL

Stomach upset can really ruin your day — whether it’s slight nausea or a nasty case of bloating, if you’re experiencing a stomach problem, you’re likely searching for a solution. While

some healthy foods only serve to make things worse, there are a few foods and drinks that can ease the pain. Tea, in particular, could be the remedy that your stomach needs. Stomach discomfort can come from a variety of causes. It’s not always from something you

ate, though that definitely plays a role. Anxiety has a huge effect on digestion, as does stress, lack of sleep and other emotional triggers.

Hormones can mess with your stomach, as can nutritional defi-ciencies and dietary patterns. Some teas can have a calming effect that can help relieve stomach pain. Knowing the cause of your stomachache is important for choosing the right kind of tea. While tea could be great for relieving temporary bouts of discomfort and minor stomach issues, if you have a larger problem, you should consult your doctor. But for the smaller situations, one of these soothing tea options might help:

Soothing sippers

1 Licorice Tea

Tea made from licorice root — unfortu-nately not from licorice candy — could help to alleviate a number of stomach problems ranging from ulcers to indi-gestion. The potent-flavored root is known to have a potentially protective effect on the lining of the stomach.

2 Ginger Tea

This could be a better plan than sip-ping ginger ale. Ginger root has been used medicinally for thousands of years in regions including Asia and India. It helps to relieve upset stom-ach, indigestion, motion sickness and nausea.

3 Peppermint Tea

Peppermint leaves have been used medicinally for nausea, menstrual cramps, abdominal gas and nearly any other type of stomach ailment. Addi-tionally, multiple studies have shown that peppermint is effective in treating irritable bowel syndrome.

4 Basil Tea

This spice is good for more than just a fresh pasta and pizza topping. It is rumored that adding a sprinkle of ba-sil to a cup of hot tea can help soothe indigestion and alleviate discomfort when you’re feeling overly full.

5 Chamomile Tea

One of the most popular herbs in the world, chamomile contains anti-in-flammatory, antispasmodic and carmi-native properties, all of which make it good for soothing the stomach. Cham-omile can relieve upset stomach, irrita-ble bowel syndrome, stomach cramps, indigestion and abdominal gas.

6 Green Tea

Green tea is said to relieve bloating and abdominal gas. Just remember that the caffeine could keep you awake, so we advise you to avoid sipping this bev-erage too close to bedtime.

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TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019