What is pain?
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Pain is a feeling of discomfort. Every person feels pain differently, and the amount of pain that each person can withstand varies a great deal. Depending on the cause, pain can be pointed or dull, or throbbing or steady. It can be present all the time, or it can come and go. Pain can range in intensity from mild to unbearable, and in some cases, it may be difficult to describe. Pain is the number one reason for doctor's visits.
Pain is a feeling of discomfort. Every person feels pain differently, and the amount of pain that each person can withstand varies a great deal. Depending on the cause, pain can be pointed or dull, or throbbing or steady. It can be present all the... More -
Eric Olsen answered:The word pain comes from the Latin peona, which, rather freely translated, means "punishment." (We're using the word pain rather loosely to include all the vague sensations, discomforts, and twinges that some wouldn't call pain at all, as well as the unmistakable, teeth-gritting, eye-scrunching aches we all agree is pain.) In many cases, when we don't pay attention to our pain, it can certainly become punishment. To remain unhurt so you can get all the benefits of an active life, you need to listen to your pain, become a connoisseur of pain, as it were, and understand the differences between the types of pains you may feel before, during, and after a workout. You need to know what the pains are "telling" you, which pains warn of damage and which are simply the residue of fatigue, and then respond appropriately.
In the strict clinical sense, pain is what we feel when certain specialized receptors in the skin, muscles, and other tissues are stimulated. Different receptors respond to different types of stimuli -- there are heat receptors, cold receptors, pressure receptors, "chemoreceptors," and so on -- and the intensity of the feeling, whether pain or otherwise, depends on how many of these receptors are stimulated and how frequently.
But it's all much more complicated than that. We actually feel pain only after the pain receptors send their messages to the brain, where the information is processed and interpreted. How we interpret a sensation -- as pain or a nagging "not quite pain" or even pleasure -- depends very much on our mental landscape. Pain is really a complex of physical and emotional reactions, and the two can never be entirely separated.
Find out more about this book: Lifefit: An Effective Exercise Program for Optimal Health and a Longer Life
The word pain comes from the Latin peona, which, rather freely translated, means "punishment." (We're using the word pain rather loosely to include all the vague sensations, discomforts, and twinges that some wouldn't call pain at all, as... More -
Piedmont Heart Institute answered:An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage is known as pain.
It is useful to distinguish between the two basic types of pain, acute and chronic, and they differ greatly.
Acute pain, for the most part, results from a disease, inflammation, or an injury to tissues. This type of pain generally comes on suddenly?for example, after trauma or surgery?and may be accompanied by anxiety or emotional distress. The cause of acute pain can usually be diagnosed and treated, and the pain is self-limiting, that is, it is confined to a given period of time and severity. In some rare instances, pain can become chronic. Chronic pain is widely believed to represent a disease itself. It can be made much worse by environmental and psychological factors. Chronic pain persists over a longer period than acute pain and is resistant to most medical treatments. It can, and often does, cause severe problems for patients.This answer is based on source information from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage is known as pain. It is useful to distinguish between the two basic types of pain, acute and chronic, and they... More -
Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with damage to body tissues, including organs, bones, and muscles.
Pain is the most common reason individuals seek medical care. Pain is often classified as acute (immediate, short-term) or chronic (long-term).
Approximately 30-40 million Americans annually do not experience symptom relief with use of over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®), aspirin, and ibuprofen (Advil®). Some researchers estimate that 35% of Americans experience chronic pain.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the annual cost of chronic pain in the United States, including healthcare expenses, lost income, and lost productivity, is estimated to be about $100 billion.
The four most common types of pain are lower back pain, severe headache or migraine pain, neck pain, and facial ache or pain. Back pain is the leading cause of disability in Americans under 45 years old.
There is no objective measurement of pain for individuals. Pain can only be reported by the individual experiencing it.
You should read product labels, and discuss all therapies with a qualified healthcare provider. Natural Standard information does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with damage to body tissues, including organs, bones, and muscles. Pain is the most common reason individuals seek medical care. Pain is often classified as acute... More
