Posts by: Ana Pena, PhD

Ana Pena, PhD

Ana is a molecular biologist with a passion for communication and discovery. As a science writer, her goal is to provide readers, in particular patients and healthcare providers, with clear and quality information about the latest medical advances. Ana holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Lisbon, Portugal, where she specialized in infectious diseases, epigenetics, and gene expression.

March 20, 2020March 20, 2020

Magnesium, Calcium Levels Possibly Linked to Inflammation and Metabolic Disorders in Fibromyalgia

News

Low levels of magnesium in the blood are associated with greater levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, while calcium levels appear to be correlated with values of ... Read more

February 26, 2020February 26, 2020

Addiction Medicine Naltrexone May Relieve Tenderness, Fatigue in Fibromyalgia, Pilot Study Shows

News

Daily low oral doses of naltrexone — a medicine normally used to treat opioid or alcohol addiction — may relieve tenderness, fatigue, and pain in people with fibromyalgia, a pilot ... Read more

February 24, 2020February 24, 2020

Fibromyalgia and Spondyloarthritis Seen to Coexist in IBD, Be Distinguished Using Ultrasound

News

Fibromyalgia and spondyloarthritis can coexist in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and be distinguished using ultrasound imaging, a study suggests. The study, “Clinical and sonographic discrimination between fibromyalgia and spondyloarthopathy ... Read more

February 17, 2020February 17, 2020

Compounds That Block Certain Nerve Cell Receptors May Help Relieve Fibromyalgia Pain, Mouse Study Suggests

News

Scientists have uncovered a molecular pathway that may explain why people with fibromyalgia get no pain relief from opioids such as morphine. Their findings suggest this is caused by the ... Read more

January 31, 2020January 31, 2020

Complementary and Integrative Medicine Use Extremely Common in Fibromyalgia, Mayo Clinic Study Says

News

The use of complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) continues to be extremely common among people with fibromyalgia (FM), with many patients using spiritual healing, massage therapy, and spine manipulation (chiropractic ... Read more

January 6, 2020January 6, 2020

Yoga May Offer Relief for Pain, Sleep Problems and Catastrophizing in FM Patients, Study Suggests

News

Daily yoga practice may provide relief from pain, reduce negative thoughts about pain, and ease sleep problems in some patients with fibromyalgia (FM), according to a pilot study. The positive ... Read more

December 11, 2019December 11, 2019

Men Support Female Partners With Fibromyalgia Despite Impact on Sexuality, Study Finds

News

While fibromyalgia profoundly compromises a couple’s sex life, a study has found that male partners of women diagnosed with the condition essentially respond by fostering support and fighting for the ... Read more

December 9, 2019December 18, 2019

Fibromyalgia in Younger People More Likely Driven by Genetics, Large Study Suggests

News

Genetics seem to be playing a larger role in driving the development of fibromyalgia in patients, 50 or younger, than in those who are older and more likely to have ... Read more

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019

Nerve Cell Growth Factors Not Elevated in Blood of FM Patients, Study Finds, Contrary to Prior Research

News

Plasma levels of BDNF and NGF — two nerve cell growth factors proposed to underlie fibromyalgia (FM) — were not found to be elevated in patients compared with healthy individuals, ... Read more

October 9, 2019October 9, 2019