According to a 2008 study published in the Journal of Pain, chronic pain currently affects approximately 116 million American adults – more common than diabetes, heart disease and cancer. But since pain can be caused by many different diseases, injuries, and conditions, there are many risk factors that need to be considered when predicting who may be experiencing chronic pain and how to manage it. Required.
There are three main types of risk factors for chronic pain.
Biological risk factors that are related to your physical characteristics as well as your medical history
Psychological risk factors associated with your mood and personality
Lifestyle risk factors
Living with chronic pain: Biological risk factors
These are the main physical factors that can put you at risk for chronic pain:
old age. As people get older and with physical age, they need more ways to manage pain.
Genetics Some chronic pain conditions, such as migraines, are linked to genetics. Studies have also found genetic conditions that can make you more sensitive to pain and require chronic pain management.
Race. Studies show that African Americans and Hispanics are at higher risk of chronic pain.
obesity. People who lift a lot of weight often have chronic pain due to poor health. Obesity can also exacerbate medical conditions that require pain management.
Back injury Michael Mascotz, an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of California, Davis, and a member of the American Board of Pain, is at higher risk of severe pain in the future. Says the MD. “Central pain neurotransmitters are released in large quantities in people who have had back pain or have had a long-term psychiatric disorder,” says Dr. Muscovitz of the Foundation. “It’s an amazing increase – it could be anywhere from three to five times.”
Living With Chronic Pain: Psychological Risk Factors
These factors can also increase your risk of living with chronic pain:
Childhood trauma. People who neglect their parents or face physical or sexual abuse are more likely to have chronic pain. “These childhood factors play a big role in causing later chronic pain,” says Muscotz.
Mood disorders People with stress or anxiety disorders have a higher risk of chronic pain. Many areas of the brain and neurotransmitters that handle pain signals also regulate mood.
Living With Chronic Pain: Lifestyle Risk Factors
The way you live your life can put you at risk for chronic pain.
A high risk job. Employed people who require heavy lifting or strenuous physical activity have a higher risk of developing chronic pain.
Stress Chronic pain has been linked to both chronic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Smoking. Smokers have a higher risk of developing medical conditions that require chronic pain management. They are also less likely to treat pain management.
Living With Chronic Pain: Decreasing Your Risk
Being more aware of your risk factors can help you avoid future pain. The precautions you can take include:
Improve your health. Exercise right to reach a healthy weight and stay physically fit.
Quit smoking. There are numerous health benefits to quitting, including the ability to avoid future chronic pain management.
Manage your stress. Another form of stress relief is exercise, meditation, or practice.
Seek help for mood disorders. If you are depressed or anxious, first help your mood swings lead to chronic pain.
Be careful on the job. Take precautions to limit your risk of injury. “It’s part of the job, because the job security issues are really important,” Muscovitz said. Many of these jobs can be made more secure. “In construction, people have to wear tight hats because they are less likely to get a head injury. The same can be said for wearing a brace or support when doing heavy lifting. ”
The bottom line is this: learning more about why chronic pain occurs and how to manage it can help you avoid it.