Fibromyalgia: How Green Eyeglasses Can Help Ease Pain-Related Anxiety
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| How Green Eyeglasses Can Help Ease Pain-Related Anxiety |
- Researchers say wearing green-tinted eyeglasses for several hours may help ease pain-related anxiety associated with fibromyalgia.
- Experts say the color green has healing powers and is the most relaxing color for the eye to view.
- They add that daily exercise, a healthy sleep schedule, and relaxation techniques can also help.
People with fibromyalgia and other people with chronic pain may have less anxiety associated with their pain and may require fewer opioids if they wear specialized green eyewear for a number of hours each day.
That is supported by a study that was presented at the annual meeting of ANESTHESIOLOGY in 2022.
The results have not yet been made public in a peer-reviewed journal.
Approximately 4 million adults in the United States Trusted Source now suffer from fibromyalgia.
Similar molecular pathways underlie both the condition's associated pain and anxiety. Additionally, the fear of pain aggravates anxiety and may result in the use of opioids. Opioids are the most common therapeutic option for the condition's occasionally severe pain.
34 fibromyalgia patients participated in the trial and were randomly assigned to wear different pairs of eyeglasses for four hours each day for two weeks.
- 10 participants wore blue glasses
- 12 participants wore clear glasses
- 12 participants wore green glasses
According to studies, those wearing green spectacles were four times more likely to report lower levels of anxiety than the other groups, who said they experienced no such decrease.
Most participants who wore the green spectacles said they felt better and requested permission to continue doing so after the trial was over.
The glasses were developed by scientists to block out a particular wavelength of green light.
The study authors claimed that they discovered no change in the participants' pain levels. But individuals who wore green eyewear took less painkillers, indicating that their pain was appropriately managed.
The green eyewear therapy was advised by the researchers for fibromyalgia patients. To determine whether lowering anxiety in persons with other chronic pain problems may be beneficial, researchers are presently researching people with these conditions.
Alternative medicine includes color treatment, often known as light therapy.
Its foundation is the idea that both physical and mental health can be improved by color. There are little scientific studies on the effectiveness of utilizing colors to promote health, despite the fact that it has likely been practiced for a long time, probably dating back to ancient Egypt, Greece, China, and India.
"Light therapy shows promise as an adjuvant to conventional pain treatments for chronic pain problems. Green light-emitting LEDs have showed promise in migraine research for reducing severity and frequency, according to Dr. Dmitriy Dvoskin, a pain management, physical medicine, and rehabilitation specialist at Pain Management NYC in New York. Additionally, a study Trusted Source shown that colors influence how painful stimuli are perceived. Participants assessed red as being more painful than other hues when it comes to pain. When blue and green light were present before the pain, the researchers saw less acute pain perception.
The study's lead author, Dr. Padma Gulur, who is also a professor of anesthesiology and population health at Duke Anesthesiology and the director of pain management strategy and opioid surveillance at Duke Health, outlined the study's findings to Healthline.
"Fear of pain-related anxiety was minimized by green glasses. The notion is that our visual mediators respond more to green light when it comes to blocking the pain pathways, however we do not fully understand the mechanism for this response and are now exploring it, Gulur said.
Why green alleviates anxiety and discomfort more effectively than other hues is still a mystery.
According to Dr. Medhat Mikhael, a pain management specialist and the medical director of the non-operative program at the Spine Health Center at Memorial Care Orange Coast Medical Center in California, "green has healing potential and is the most calming color for the human eye to watch."
According to Mikhael for Healthline, "green helps reduce anxiety, melancholy, and uneasiness." It stands for harmony, regeneration, and new growth. Green could be used in color therapy to alter the central nervous system, causing excitement and the release of some neuropeptides that can block pain and lessen the need for opioids.
What is fibromyalgia?
The symptoms of fibromyalgia include widespread pain, trouble sleeping, exhaustion, and emotional anguish.
Some fibromyalgia sufferers are more sensitive to pain.
Some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia include:
- Pain and stiffness all over the body
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Sleep problems
- Problems with thinking, memory, and concentration
- Headaches
Those with lupus or rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to acquire fibromyalgia, and diagnosis often happens in middle life.
Treatment usually consists of a combination of therapies, including:
- Medications, such as pain-relievers
- Aerobic exercises
- Muscle strengthening exercises
- Stress management techniques
- Cognitive behavioral therapy for underlying depression
- Improving sleep time and the quality of sleep
Self-care is a crucial component of fibromyalgia treatment.
It can enhance daily functioning, lessen discomfort, and boost wellness perceptions.
The following self-care measures are advised by the American College of Rheumatology:
- Take time each day to relax. Use deep breathing and meditation to reduce stress.
- Create a sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Avoid napping and limit caffeine consumption.
- Participate in regular exercise This can reduce pain and fatigue. If it is difficult, start slow, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. As it becomes easier, add additional activities.
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