Chronic pain: Another thing to not like about middle age

New research published Thursday in the British journal The Lancet shows that more than a quarter of Americans suffer daily pain. The study, which was coauthored by Princeton economist Alan Krueger, observed:

College graduates report feeling half the pain as those who hadn't finished high school.

Chronic pain sufferers report watching 50% more television than the average person (25% of their day versus 16%).

Men and women suffer chronic pain at nearly equal rates.

Ache and pains increase as people get older but, surprisingly, pain tends to plateau from 45 to 75.

Engaging in close interpersonal relationships reduces pain bit those suffering pain tend to socialize less.

A previous study had noted that nearly 15% of the U.S. workforce's output is diminished by ailments such as headaches and arthritis.

The study did not attempt to differentiate between causation and correlation. For example do sufferers of chronic pain watch more TV because they are in pain or does the inactivity associated with high-levels of TV viewing make chronic pain more likely. But the study does support the importance of addressing health issues early and in engaging in healthy habits including proper diet, exercise and stress relief. Being socially active, daily walks, and maintaining a positive mental outlook are also all but mandatory for minimizing the risks or effects of chronic pain.

Article source: Time