What is fibromyalgia, the chronic illness Kirsty Young suffers from?
Kirsty Young has spoken in detail about how she is living with fibromyalgia, after being diagnosed with the chronic condition in 2018.
The BBC radio presenter said she is now feeling "pretty good", but admitted she had gone through "painful and excruciating" times with the illness.
In an interview on the How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast, Young, 56, said: "I’m very fortunate because I was able to completely reshape my life to make sure that I could take time out to take care of myself, to find the right medication, to find the right lifestyle to support my wellness.
"It has at times been very difficult, and painful and excruciating, and frustrating, and all those things, and right now I’m pretty good.
"I mean, it has little flares and I have to be mindful of the sort of pain stuff, but I do things that are important to keep me on an even keel. And the thing is with the sort of immunosuppressed or rheumatological complaints, if you do the same thing all the time it’s good for your body.
"So sometimes that’s compatible with work and not compatible, and sometimes you can’t control the stress factors in your life and all that, and it can flare up, but generally I would say I’m pretty good, and sometimes less good, and that’s also fine."
What is fibromyalgia?
According to the NHS website fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body.
As well as widespread pain, people with fibromyalgia may also suffer from other symptoms including fatigue, muscle stiffness, insomnia, headaches and bloating.
Though the exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, experts believe it could be related to abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain and changes in the way the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) processes pain messages carried around the body.
Who is affected by fibromyalgia?
Anyone can develop fibromyalgia, but the condition is more common in women, affecting around seven times as many females as males and typically develops between the ages of 30 and 50.
In many cases, the condition appears to be triggered by a physically or emotionally stressful event, like a death or traumatic birth, but the NHS also explains that some people could be more likely to develop fibromyalgia because of genes inherited from their parents.
Sufferers can find it difficult to get a diagnosis because there is currently no specific test for the condition, and symptoms can be similar to a number of other conditions.
How is fibromyalgia treated?
At the moment there is no known cure for the disorder, only symptom management, which can include: medication – such as antidepressants and painkillers, talking therapies – such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling and lifestyle changes – such as exercise programmes and relaxation techniques.
Alternative and complementary therapies are also said to be useful in helping to manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia. These include physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, and yoga.
The NHS also recommends that sufferers might find support groups a vital resource.
Celebrities with fibromyalgia
Aside from Young, several famous faces have also revealed that they are living with fibromyalgia.
Lady Gaga
In 2017, Lady Gaga revealed she suffers from the condition and raised awareness about it through her documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two.
She spoke about how having fibromyalgia caused her "severe pain", which forced her to cancel tour shows in the past. However, in 2022, she said she performed her Chromatica Ball tour in 2020 "pain-free" for the first time in years.
Olivia Munn
Olivia Munn received a diagnosis for fibromyalgia in 2019, after spending years not knowing why she had "different ailments".
"I wasn't really sure what was going on with me,” Munn told People. “I was going through a lot of different ailments for years and not knowing what was happening."
Morgan Freeman
Following a car accident in 2008, Morgan Freeman was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. He told Esquire that the condition causes him "excruciating" pain that travels "up and down" his left arm.
Sinead O'Connor
The late Sinead O'Connor previously revealed that she quit her music career because of the pain and fatigue she was experiencing due to fibromyalgia.
She told Hot Press in 2005: "I have a high pain threshold, so that helps- it's the tiredness part that I have difficulty with. It is made worse, obviously, by stress. So you have to try and keep life quiet and peaceful."
Read more about health and wellness:
Chronic migraines: Symptoms, causes and treatment as MP resigns from role (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
Scientists say chronic pain 'slashed' by eating this specific diet (SurreyLive, 2-min read)
Millions take antidepressants for chronic pain – but there’s little evidence the most commonly prescribed drugs work (The Conversation, 3-min read)
