Recent studies have shown that sleep patterns in fibromyalgia patients are different than patients without fibromyalgia.^1-3  Normal sleep is considered an active process which requires the brain to cycle through many different patterns of sleep in order for the body to get proper sleep. In general, normal sleep is divided into 2 general categories: REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non rapid eye movement).

REM sleep is characterized by inactive, voluntary muscle movements except for the eye muscles and if awakened at this point, patients often report dreaming. NREM sleep is divided into 4 separate categories (stages 1-4); stage 3-4 of this sleep stage is called slow wave sleep and responsible for giving you good, restful sleep. Patients with fibromyalgia are thought to have disrupted or shortened slow wave sleep specifically interrupted alpha-delta wave pattern contributing to poor sleep.^4-6

What is known about sleep problems with fibromyalgia?

Studies have shown 40-96% of patients with fibromyalgia complain of sleep disturbances.⁵ This sleep is often referred to as non restorative sleep in which the patients often feel tired upon awakening, experience daytime fatigue, or simply feel tired all day after sleeping through the night.

In particular, the alpha-delta sleep wave pattern (part of the slow wave sleep) in fibromyalgia are not normal. This results in reduced slow wave sleep and possibly leading to sleep problems. Studies indicate that pain interferes with NREM sleep causing poor sleep and thus increasing pain. So a vicious cycle of pain, poor sleep, and increased pain occurs.

How does Fibro-Nap work?

When you sleep under normal circumstances, your brain cycles through several different states of Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and High Gamma waves. You drift from one stage of sleep to another-from deep sleep to dreaming to wakefulness and so on. These waves are inaudible to the human ear.

Through advanced mastering technology, Fibro-Nap piggybacks the sleep waves on audible "carrier waves" within the audible range. The result: you get the effect of the natural waves so you can sleep!

Listen to the Fibro-Nap CD through headphones. Your brain has no sensory input other than the carrier waves playing through your ears. When you hear more than 60 seconds of a certain frequency, your brain modulates to match it. Listening to the Fibro-Nap CD through stereo headphones for 30 minutes guides your brain through a pattern of deep sleep that would otherwise require three hours!