Okay. Here's where I'm coming from.1. Most of us would agree that anxiety plays a big role in BFS. Anxiety increases circulating catecholamines, which increase neuromuscular excitability - so no big surprises there.2. Anxiety also causes hyperventilation. Some of us - me included - who have the ability to measure CO2 levels have confirmed this to be true. Low CO2 also increases neuromuscular excitability.3. Also some us - me included - have a low Vit-D level. Recent studies suggest that Vit D is also crucial for normal neuromuscular function, and the level needed to achieve "health" is much higher than previously thought. Why are so many of us so low? We are simply not getting enough sunshine. And when we do, we slap on the SPF-30. Why the question on weight gain? Vit-D is a lipid soluble Vitamin. Therefore with a finite amount of Vit-D, any weight gain is going to reduce the blood concentration.So my hypothesis is that anxiety/hyperventilation/low Vit-D creates a "perfect storm" of neuromuscular excitabily which leads to all the symptoms of BFS. Hence my question on geography. So far, no-one's come forward who lives within 3 latitudes of the equator. If there is a predominance of us who live in Northern (or soundsoap98!) regions, that might lend support to the role of Vit_D.
