Fibromyalgia sufferers may experience pain as a result of hypercoagulation (thickened blood) that can lead to poor circulation due to an excess buildup of fibrin.  Fibrin is a whitish, insoluble protein that makes up a blood clot when promoted by thrombin, a key clot promoter.

In otherwise healthy individuals, one burst of thrombin should generate enough fibrin to form an actual clot in the event of an injury.  However, those with fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions may continuously generate low thrombin levels that can result in hypercoagulation and pain as circulation slows.        

Reducing fibrin with the use of systemic enzyme therapy may be an alternative to taking blood thinning and pain relieving medications for those who do suffer from fibromyalgia.   

What is the role of fibrin in fibromyalgia?

Research from the late 1990s reveals that many patients with chronic disease may have an underlying coagulation defect contributing to their symptoms.  When tissues don’t receive sufficient blood, the cells are starved for oxygen and nutrients. Pain can result, as in headache or fibromyalgia.   

In the case of fibromyalgia, fibrin (a stiff protein) forms a meshwork, or screen that slows blood flow to the cells. This interferes with cell function and cell-to-cell communications leading to the accumulation of additional forms of protein debris. Therefore, the symptoms of fibromyalgia can respond well to treatments that are aimed at clearing protein debris. [1]   

Fibromyalgia sufferers may experience pain as a result of excess fibrin when promoted by thrombin, a key clot promoter.  In otherwise healthy individuals, one burst of thrombin should generate enough fibrin to form an actual clot in the event of an injury.  However, those with fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions may continuously generate low thrombin levels that can result in increased fibrin and pain as circulation slows.    

Reducing fibrin with the use of systemic enzyme therapy may be an alternative to taking blood thinning and pain relieving medications for those who do suffer from fibromyalgia.

How Vitalzym can help

Vitalzym can help relieve a variety of fibromyalgia related symptoms by addressing many of the underlying causes.

These symptoms include:

• Pain and Stiffness
• Fatigue
• Poor Circulation
• Digestive Troubles
• Irritable Bowel / Bladder

Vitalzym can also be a safer alternative to many prescription and over the counter pain relievers that may cause undesirable side effects, which is the last thing a fibromyalgia sufferer needs.

Vitalzym contains enzymes such as protease and serrapeptase, which are well-known for their proteolytic (excess protein clearing) properties. Proteolytic enzymes break down excess fibrin in your circulatory system and in other connective tissue, such as your muscles – helping to remove the meshwork that slows blood flow to the cells.   

If the rate of protein (fibrin) accumulation exceeds the rate of breakdown, the microcirculatory system gets clogged and flow decreases. This stagnation of protein debris promotes fibrosis in the muscles and other soft tissues. Combine this with slowed blood flow and the results are widespread pain and chronic fatigue.   

Vitalzym can help fibromyalgia sufferers by:   

• Acting as an anti-inflammatory agent
• Regulating the immune system
• Increasing circulation
• Reducing fibrosis
• Removing toxins and impurities in the blood
• Reducing viral loads

These enzymes also bring nutrients and oxygen-rich blood that remove the metabolic waste produced by inflammation and excess fibrin. This alone can bring tremendous relief to fibromyalgia sufferers.  

Additionally, researchers are beginning to believe that there is a strong autoimmune component connected to fibromyalgia syndrome. Interestingly enough, systemic enzyme therapy has an excellent track record regarding the treatment of various autoimmune diseases. In addition to reducing inflammation, regulating immunity, and reducing excess fibrin, serrapeptase has a profound ability to reduce pain due to its ability to block the release of pain-inducing amines from inflamed tissues.  

References

1. Hypercoagulation, Protein Accumulation, and Fibromyalgia; Keith Berndtson, M.D.; Illinois MultiMed

Over the past 2 decades, there has been a dramatic increase in the scientific study and public interest in omega-3 fatty acids and the positive impact they may have on our health. These special omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-arrhythmic, and anti-thrombotic properties.Omega 3’s can be helpful for conditions such as arthritis by reducing stiffness, inflammation, and joint pain.  They can also help support a healthy cardiovascular system by thinning the blood, dilating blood vessels, and supporting healthy blood pressure.  

Read Our Article

Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids: Balancing the Good Fats

Essential Fatty Acid Basics

Omega 3 fatty acids are considered “essential” because they cannot be manufactured within the body.  Therefore, they must be obtained from food sources, such as fish, plant, and nut oils.  We need them for our bodies to work normally. Because essential fatty acids (ALA, DHA, EPA) are not made in the body or are inefficiently converted from ALA to EPA and DHA, we need to get them from food.

Symptoms of omega 3 fatty acid deficiency includes:

• Extreme tiredness
• Poor memory
• Dry skin
• Heart problems
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Poor circulation

Omega-3s have a number of reported health benefits. They can help reduce inflammation throughout the body — in the blood vessels, the joints, and elsewhere. Omega-3 supplements (EPA/DHA) also seem to thin the blood and aid cell function.

There are several types of omega-3 fatty acids. However, the two most crucial ones EPA and DHA — are primarily found in certain fish. Plants like flax contain ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid that is partially converted into DHA and EPA in the body.  Experts say that DHA and EPA — from fish and fish oil — have better established health benefits than ALA. DHA and EPA are found togetheronly in fatty fish and algae; while flaxseed and plant sources of omega-3s provide ALA — a precursor to EPA and DHA, and a source of energy.

Additionally, EPA and DHA are the building blocks for hormones that control immune function, blood clotting, and cell growth.  Furthermore, extensive research has shown that omega 3 fatty acids help reduce risk factors associated with chronic diseases, such as arthritis and heart disease.

Source:  WebMD

Omega 3’s and Cardiovascular Health

Evidence is steadily accumulating indicating that omega 3 fatty acids found in fish help decrease the risk of coronary heart disease.  In fact, the Nurses’ health study and the Physician’s health study are two large, long-term observational studies that have been published regarding dietary intake omega-3-fatty acids and the risk of heart disease and sudden cardiac death:

Nurses’ Health Study -  This study began in 1976.   More than 80,000 female nurses completed life style and diet questionnaires.  Then, they were monitored for 16 years for the development of coronary heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acid consumption was calculated from the questionnaires. The results of the study showed that compared to women who rarely ate fish (less than one fish meal per month), women who ate fish once a week had a 29% lower risk of developing coronary heart disease. Those who ate fish five times a week had a 34% reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease and a 45% reduction in the risk of death from heart disease (usually sudden cardiac death). 1

Physicians Health Study – The Physician’s health study began in 1982 when more than 20,000 healthy male physicians were followed for 11 years. Life style, coronary risk factors and diet data were collected at entry, and life style and diet data were collected via questionnaires at 12 months and 18 months. The results of the study showed that men who consumed one or more fish meals per week had a 50% lower risk of developing sudden cardiac death than men who rarely ate fish (less than one fish meal per month). 2

According to WebMD, “Omega-3 fatty acids appear to lower the overall risk of death from heart disease.  Fish oil may reduce arrhythmias, and people who take omega-3 supplements after a heart attack cut their risk of having another heart attack.  Eating fish once or twice a week seems to significantly lower the risk of stroke.”

Omega 3’s and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmunedisease, characterized by inflammation of the synovial lining of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis may also affect other organs of the body, including the skin, eyes, lungs and heart.

Omega 3’s have been shown to help reduce inflammation in the body, thereby, offering relief to those who suffer from inflammatory joint conditions. 

The majority of clinical studies that have investigated the use of omega-3 fatty acid supplements for inflammatory joint conditions have focused primarily on rheumatoid arthritis. These studies have concluded that omega-3 fatty acid supplements help reduce tenderness in joints, decrease morning stiffness, and allow for a reduction in the amount of medication needed for people with rheumatoid arthritis.  Additionally, laboratory studies suggest that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids may benefit people with other inflammatory disorders, such as osteoarthritis. 3, 4

The Physician’s Desk Reference for Nutritional Supplements suggests that a “daily ingestion of at least 3 grams of EPA and DHA mixtures of a period of 12 weeks or longer has been found to reduce the number of tender joints and amount of morning stiffness in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis.  Those with rheumatoid arthritis consuming these supplements have been report to lower or discontinue use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.”

Further Reading

Diet, atherosclerosis, and fish oil.

N-3 fatty acids from fish oil. Effects on plasma lipoproteins and hypertriglyceridemic patients.

Low levels of cellular omega-3 increase the risk of ventricular fibrillation during the acute ischaemic phase of a myocardial infarction.

Omega-3 fatty acids in rheumatoid arthritis: an overview.

A meta-analysis of the analgesic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for inflammatory joint pain.

Validation of a meta-analysis: the effects of fish oil in rheumatoid arthritis.

References

1.  JAMA vol 287. No.14, p 1815. “Fish and omega-3-fatty acid intake and risk of coronary heart disease in women”.

2.  JAMA 1998, vol 279, p23. The title of the article is “Fish consumption and risk of sudden cardiac death”.

3.  MacLean CH, Mojica WA, Morton SC, et al. Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on lipids and glycemic control in type II diabetes and the metabolic syndrome and on inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, renal disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and osteoporosis. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Summ). 2004(89):1-4. 

4. Goldberg RJ, Katz J. A meta-analysis of the analgesic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for inflammatory joint pain. Pain. 2007;129(1-2):210-223.

Today’s lifestyles can be stressful and generally involves poor dietary habits, hectic schedules, and anxiety, with little or no time to exercise. Threats of dangerous cold and flu strains and the current state of the economy can contribute to the rise in one’s stress levels. All of these factors combined can lay the foundation for stress, tension, fatigue, frustration, and anxiety that can decrease immune function and make us more susceptible to cold and flu viruses.

When it comes to colds and flu, we are faced with the necessity of keeping our immunity high along with what seems to be a difficult decision in regards to having a flu shot.  Whether you decide to have a flu shot or not, it is still a good idea to help keep your immune system strong.  Using natural dietary supplements can help build and keep your immune system functioning optimally.

Cold and Flu Viruses

Every year in the U.S. the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports several million cases of colds and flu. Up to 10% to 20% of the total U.S. population may become ill in any given year. Of these, thousands of the most serious cases require hospitalization, and each year there are several related deaths from complications caused by the flu. And now we have renewed and more dangerous strains, such as the Avian Flu and Swine Flu.

You can help to keep you and your family members well by keeping the immune system boosted and taking dietary supplements at the onset that will help shorten the severity and duration.

Help keep your immune system strong by:

• Taking supplements to help build the immune system
• Having products on hand in case you begin to not feel well
• Taking measures to reduce stress and exposure to illness

On one hand we have the Center for Disease Control (CDC) stating that flu vaccines are perfectly safe and necessary, especially for a particular group of people, such as those “at high risk for serious complications.”

Then, there are those who are on the other side of the coin claiming the harm that could be potentially caused by the vaccine may outweigh the good.  While flu vaccines may not be widely accepted or needed by everyone, it is very important to communicate with your health care professional if you have any concerns whether you or your family members should have it or not.

Read our article: Building Your Immune System and Fighting Viruses  to learn more about what you can do to keep you and your family healthy during the cold and flu season, as well as all year long.