According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), almost anyone, at any age, can do some type of physical activity. You can still exercise even if you have a health condition like heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, high blood pressure, or diabetes. In fact, physical activity may help. For most older adults, physical activities like… Continue reading Exercise and Chronic Conditions
Tag: pain
Could A Metal Implant Affect Your Skin?
Millions of people in the U.S. report having a metal allergy, and current estimates state that 10 percent of Americans will receive a medical implant during their lifetime. Board-certified dermatologists who attended the American Academy of Dermatology’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans are seeing more patients concerned about a possible skin hypersensitivity to the nickel… Continue reading Could A Metal Implant Affect Your Skin?
Pain Relief Found in The Garden
Look to the garden, farmer’s market, or refrigerator next time you are battling sore muscles, indigestion, and headaches. These five foods fresh from the garden contain powerful pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. Mint Infuse mint into your tea or ice water to refresh and rejuvenate. It also helps relieve headaches and general aches and pain. Grow… Continue reading Pain Relief Found in The Garden
Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome
Pain after any type of surgery is expected, but up to 30% of women undergoing mastectomy as part of breast cancer treatment will experience long-term pain and discomfort known as Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome, or PMPS. Fortunately, several effective treatment options are available for this vexing and distressing condition. Each year, more than 100,000 women… Continue reading Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome
Pain Rising Among Some Younger Americans
Younger Americans with less than a bachelor’s degree reported higher levels of pain than today’s older adults did at their age. Continued increases in pain as generations age may challenge a healthcare system already struggling to treat chronic pain. The study examined trends in pain, both nationwide and internationally, across adults of different ages. Pain… Continue reading Pain Rising Among Some Younger Americans
Talking with Your Doctor about Pain
Although pain is common, many people have a hard time describing it exactly to their doctor or nurse. But according to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), considering these questions and issues about pain can help you and your health care practitioner have the best possible treatment: These include: Where does it hurt? When did… Continue reading Talking with Your Doctor about Pain
Going Under: A Closer Look at Anesthesia
Every day, people undergo surgery. Some operations require going deep into the body. Some can take many hours to finish. Many of these procedures are possible only because of anesthesia. Different types of anesthesia may be used depending on the procedure. Local anesthesia numbs a small part of the body, such as a tooth. Regional… Continue reading Going Under: A Closer Look at Anesthesia
More Mindfulness = Less Pain?
People who are naturally more mindful report less pain and show lower activation of a specific region of the brain in response to an unpleasant heat stimulus, according to a new study supported by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). The study, conducted by researchers from Wake Forest University and collaborating institutions,… Continue reading More Mindfulness = Less Pain?
What A Pain: “iPad Neck”
As much as we all love our iPads and other tablets, can they be a literal pain in the neck? The answer is likely yes — especially if you’re a young adult or a woman. “iPad neck” — persistent pain in the neck and upper shoulders caused by slouching or bending into extreme positions while… Continue reading What A Pain: “iPad Neck”
A Non-Opioid Alternative for Pain in the ER
A combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen proved as good as opioids in treating arm or leg pain for adults coming to the emergency department, new research shows. According to a release from the JAMA Network Journals, in the randomized clinical trial researchers analyzed 416 patients, aged 21 to 64 years, in two urban emergency departments.… Continue reading A Non-Opioid Alternative for Pain in the ER
Opioid-Free Anesthesia Decreases Post-Surgery Nausea
The use of opioid alternatives in general anesthesia is safe, effective and substantially decreases post-operative nausea, according to research presented at the 2017 annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Using those alternatives is part of an effort by TEAMHealth Anesthesia at Select Physicians Surgery Center in Tampa, Florida to reduce the use of… Continue reading Opioid-Free Anesthesia Decreases Post-Surgery Nausea
People Who Have Painful Conditions Fare Better Over Time When Spouses Are Empathetic
The dynamics of spouses’ daily interactions may influence whether an ill partner’s physical functioning improves over time, according to findings published June 12TH 2017 in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. A release from the association quotes Ohio State researcher Stephanie J. Wilson, lead author on the study who completed the… Continue reading People Who Have Painful Conditions Fare Better Over Time When Spouses Are Empathetic
Older Patients Often Under-Report Pain
Older post-operative patients may experience pain but not admit it as often as younger patients, according to new research presented at this year’s Euroanaesthesia meeting in Geneva. Because of that, the researchers concluded, it may be better to ask patients directly about how well they are functioning post-operatively rather than about how much pain they… Continue reading Older Patients Often Under-Report Pain
Music Therapy Eases Pain of Spinal-Surgery Patients
Music therapy has been found to decrease pain in patients recovering from spine surgery, compared to a control group of patients who received standard postoperative care alone. The study, published in The American Journal of Orthopedics, included a team of researchers from The Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine and the Mount Sinai Department… Continue reading Music Therapy Eases Pain of Spinal-Surgery Patients
Sex Differences in Brain Activity Alter Pain Therapies
A female brain’s resident immune cells are more active in regions involved in pain processing relative to males, according to a March 2017 study by Georgia State University researchers. A release from the university explains that the study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, found that when microglia — the brain’s resident immune cells —… Continue reading Sex Differences in Brain Activity Alter Pain Therapies
A Non-Addictive Pain Treatment?
Researchers are drawing closer to developing chronic-pain treatments that keep the medicinal properties of marijuana without the possibility of addiction. The study, by experts at Oregon Health and Science University, was conducted in a rodent model. It provides additional rationale for the development of therapeutics using cannabinoid receptors to treat chronic pain, which afflicts about… Continue reading A Non-Addictive Pain Treatment?
What to Do when A Loved One Says, “I Have Cancer”
Anyone who has been given a cancer diagnosis makes an immediate recalibration of every previously held ambition. Friends and loved ones often don’t understand how priorities held for a lifetime can change overnight when someone learns that he or she has cancer. Reactions to a cancer diagnosis, regardless of the prognosis, will vary according to… Continue reading What to Do when A Loved One Says, “I Have Cancer”
Can You Exercise with Pain?
Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something might be wrong. But, according to the experts at Go4Life, a division of the National Institute on Aging, say that doesn’t necessarily mean you should avoid exercise. In fact, they say, it could be helpful. But as always, check with your doctor if you are… Continue reading Can You Exercise with Pain?