Pain Awareness Month is September. Paula* started feeling anguish in her head late last year. It started as an ache, but it did n’t get worse until uncomfortable actions like waving to a friend or putting on a sports bra became necessary. Due to the pain, she began having trouble sleeping and paying interest at work. Paula later learned she had a shoulder break and that some days were worse than others, but the pain was persistent. ” I do n’t remember what it’s like not to have the pain”, she said. Paula is not alone: About 1 in 5 persons living in the U. S. have experienced severe pain. Women of color are less likely to receive pain treatment than white people, according to research, and women and those who are given the title “female at baby” are more likely than men to experience severe pain. Severe problems can have an impact on every aspect of life and also alter how your brain functions. What is severe problems? By definition, severe pain is pain that lasts for more than three weeks. It can be regular — like Paula’s — or it can come and go. There are many reasons for serious problems, including a condition or wound from which it was previously recovered but the pain persists. Health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, severe acute illness and temporomandibular problems can be a reason of chronic pain. And some individuals, who have never been injured or previously ill, experience severe pain for unknown reasons. Unabhängig of the trigger, increasing body of research is looking into the brain’s effects from chronic pain. Read: After 14 Years of Chronic Pain, I’m Suddenly Embracing Pain Management &gt, &gt, How chronic problems changes the mind” Studies have shown that chronic pain can actually reduce grey matter in the brain”, said Puja Shah, M. D., an clinical pain management specialist and member of Healthy Women’s Women’s Health Advisory Council. The cells in your brain and spinal cord contains pretty much everything you need to do daily tasks, including learning, memory, emotions, and motion. A lower in white matter may cause issues in related areas, therefore. For instance, one study found that the hippocampus, which is the part of your brain responsible for short- and long-term storage, decreased in size and action, among other things. Other studies have demonstrated that chronic pain harms the areas that control emotions and desire. These character changes can cause anger and anxiety as a result. Additionally, chronic pain has been linked to a number of health conditions affecting the mind, including: Chronic pain can also affect areas of the brain that are responsible for mental function. ” These modifications can cause problems with emphasis, learning and problem-solving, even when the pain is not at the vanguard of that person’s knowledge”, said Jane Wigginton, M. D., health technology research director at the Center for Brain Health. Constant pain also has a significant influence on mental and emotional health. Under the constant pressure of pain, Wiggington said,” The emotional centers of the brain, like the amygdala and regions involved in emotional regulation, become more reactive.” ” This can lead to increased anxiety, frustration and feelings of hopelessness” .Over time, chronic pain can reduce the brain’s ability to experience joy and pleasure, which can add to emotional problems. People living with chronic pain may become more prone to mental health issues like depression because of the emotional wear that is paired with constant pain. This explains why chronic pain has been linked to depression and substance use disorders because it shares neural pathways with the brain’s mood and reward systems. ” Persistent pain can disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood, pleasure and motivation. It can become more difficult for people to find relief or find joy as a result of this disruption, she said, adding that people may experience depression, anxiety, and a diminished sense of reward as a result. The fact that chronic pain is an invisible illness can also contribute to feelings of loneliness, which can lead to social isolation and depression. Studies have shown that people who experience chronic pain are more prone to social isolation, which in turn can worsen their symptoms. Another factor that can worsen chronic pain is stress, which causes brain function changes to change more quickly. Basically, the body releases cortisol, also called the “flight or flight” hormone, which can decrease the brain’s ability to manage emotions and pain. According to Wigginton,” Chronic stress may also make the brain more sensitive to pain signals, increasing both discomfort and emotional strain.” Shah claimed that recent studies and advancements in medical imaging have helped to bring attention to how chronic pain alters the brain. ” It also shows that pain in and of itself is a true mind/body disease”, Shah said. ” It’s validation that suffering is causing long-term damage “.Read: Tech Solutions for Chronic Pain &gt, &gt, Chronic pain in women There’s still a lot about chronic pain that we do n’t know. However, we do know that women and men experience pain differently and that women are generally more sensitive to pain than men. Wigginton said this is due, in part, to hormonal fluctuations. ” These fluctuations, particularly during menstruation, pregnancy and menopause, can heighten pain sensitivity and alter the way the brain processes pain signals”, she said. According to Shah, chronic pain is not necessarily related to tolerance; it is a complex, interconnected condition that feels different based on the individual. Additionally, chronic pain may have some stigma that prevent people from receiving the assistance they need. Read: Breaking Barriers to Pain Treatment &gt, &gt,” Women are less likely to speak up when experiencing a chronic pain condition”, Shah said. This is due to a number of factors, including cultural norms, difficulty in finding the time and space for women to prioritize their self-care and bias in the medical field regarding men versus women’s treatment, despite the fact that they are more likely than men to be diagnosed with pain conditions. Shah is deeply concerned about chronic pain and how to treat it. She claims that having migraine attacks for years, but that having them managed with better control, including medication and positioning, has helped her. The first step, she said, is awareness. According to Shah and Wigginton,” too often we diminish things as normal when they are n’t,” brain-healthy behaviors like reducing stress, meditating, and getting enough sleep and physical activity can reduce the symptoms of chronic pain. Women must know that they are not powerless in this process, Wigginton said. According to your site ArticlesRelated Articles Around the WebThere are many ways to improve brain health and well-being, and women can feel empowered to thrive in their lives by understanding and addressing the role of pain.

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