Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Senate Marks Awareness Day

A patients group representing the more than one million Canadians with Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) (also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.)) thanked Senator Wilbert Keon for proclaiming May 12th as the national awareness day for the two chronic and disabling disorders. Senator Keon is offering media interviews at the Senate with Ottawa reporters on Thursday, May 11th.

(PRWEB) May 14, 2006 -- A patients group representing the more than one million Canadians with Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) (also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.)) thanked Senator Wilbert Keon for proclaiming May 12th as the national awareness day for the two chronic and disabling disorders. Senator Keon is offering media interviews at the Senate with Ottawa reporters on Thursday, May 11th.

John Ernst, the group’s executive director, said recent advances in medical research have clearly proven both illnesses are real, and that they affect multiple systems in the body. The widespread neuropathic pain found in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, seem to be the result of the brain’s immune system turning on the pain neurons in the spinal cord. In addition to pain, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients endure unending fatigue, neurological changes and other symptoms, which seem to be caused by viral and bacterial factors, and changes in blood flow, with new tests able to identify genes at play.

According to FM-CFS Canada, patient groups across the country are working together to distribute up-to-date information to the medical community, with the distribution of 9,000 pairs of diagnosis and treatment protocols for each illness.

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome cost the Federal government more than ten million daily in lost taxes and disability insurance payments. "These illnesses affect a large proportion of Canadians, and we face high multi-billion dollar long-term costs," said Ernst. Years of requests made to the Federal Government did not result in any assistance, so the group hopes for a more receptive climate in the new Government.

Four out of five people with FM & CFS are women, but doctors can’t explain why. "We’ve seen children as younger than ten years old with these chronic and disabling illnesses. These young people have a big challenge to finish high school, let alone find a career." said Ernst.

While Canada lags behind, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recognize the illnesses. May 12th is Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day around the world.

For more information:

Visit www.fm-cfs.ca/news.html for the complete press release, background notes on key issues, medical advances, quotes, and the Senator's statement.

or contact:

John Ernst
FM-CFS Canada
Tel.: (613) 565-2423
Toll-free: 877-437-4673
www.fm-cfs.ca

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