Where Do You Stand on Pain?
By Sandy Schroeder
Some people seem to lead a charmed life. Pain barely reaches them. Others feel each little pinch and suffer a great deal if they are hit with a major health problem.
Actually, there are specific reasons why you may be feeling more pain, according to the Huffington Post.
Stress Invites Pain – Individuals with long-term stressful situations may have a lower threshold for pain. A study in the journal Gut found stress hormones upped intestinal pain, suggesting a link to irritable bowel syndrome. Most of us know know how painful an upset stomach can become when an unexpected stressful situation hits.
Sleeplessness Opens the Door – Norwegian researchers found individuals who slept poorly more than once a week had a much weaker tolerance to pain than those who slept well. If you have ever been up night after night during a stressful situation, you may have also experienced new levels of pain in headaches or body aches the next day too.
Depression Links to Pain – Studies suggest the pain pathways may change when depression is present. In many cases, pain hits harder and more frequently during a depression. If you are coping with depressed feelings that are not going away, see your physician and seek recommendations for counseling.
Opioids May Up Pain – Most of us have read of the opioid prescription pill epidemic now turning up across the nation. Researchers say these opioids, such as Oxycontin and Vicodin, can make the individual more vulnerable to pain. As tolerance is established, the body seeks higher doses. Eventually, new pathways in the brain are established, leaving the user with an addiction to the drug. If you are dealing with opioids see your physician and your chiropractor to withdraw the drugs, and explore new natural, drug-free answers to pain.
Genes Count – There is a chemical in the body called BH4, that increases sensitivity to pain. If you do not have the gene to block this chemical you may feel pain much more than individuals with the gene blocker, according to Harvard researchers.
Exercise May Be a Buffer – University of Florida researchers found there was a higher threshold for pain among healthy individuals who exercised than those who did not.
Female Susceptibility – Some studies indicate that women experience more pain after surgery than men. Researchers say women may have more evolved sensory mechanisms, which might leave them open to a greater sensitivity to pain.
If you are having ongoing pain, see your physician, or your chiropractor to pin down the cause and find the best solutions.