Preventing and Managing Chronic Pain and Health
Living a life full of chronic pain can be extremely difficult for an individual to manage. Chronic pain is a widespread condition that affects more than 40 million adults in the U.S. alone. It’s important to understand that there are ways to help manage and even prevent chronic pain and its effects on health.
How to Prevent Chronic Pain
The best way to ensure that you don’t suffer from chronic pain is to take the necessary steps to prevent it from occurring. Taking preventative measures can go a long way in reducing the risk of chronic pain and its associated health issues:
- Exercise Regularly – Regular physical activity helps to keep your joints and muscles limber, reduces stiffness and ultimately helps to reduce stress on the body keeping it limber and healthy.
- Watch Your Weight – A healthy weight can help minimize the impact of stress on the joints, relieving pain and reducing your risk of developing chronic pain.
- Get Quality Rest – Quality rest is essential for promoting the body to heal and relax. Chronic pain is often the result of lack of physical and mental relaxation.
- Develop Healthy Eating Habits – Eating a healthy and well-rounded balanced diet can provide your body with the necessary nutrients it needs to stay healthy and minimize your risk of chronic pain.
- Know Your Limits – Make sure you don’t overexert yourself while doing activities; take regular breaks and know your personal limits.
How to Manage Chronic Pain
If you are already suffering from chronic pain and want to manage your pain there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Review Your Medications – Make sure you know what medications you’re taking and if any of them could be causing or contributing to your chronic pain.
- Rehabilitation – Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other types of rehabilitation can be extremely helpful in reducing and managing chronic pain.
- Stress Management – Stress can cause or worsen chronic pain, so it’s important to adopt stress-management techniques like yoga, breathing exercises, or mindfulness activities.
- Acupuncture – Acupuncture is an effective form of Chinese alternative medicine that can help reduce chronic pain.
- Hot/Cold Therapy – Applying heat and cold to the affected area has proven to be beneficial in reducing the pain of chronic pain.
Managing chronic pain is a difficult task and it’s important to find the right combination of treatments that work for you. Whether its preventative steps, lifestyle changes, or medications, make sure you do your research and speak to your healthcare provider to make sure you have the best plan for your individual needs.