The third Monday of October each year is designated as World Pain Relief Day by the International Association of Pain Societies (IASP). This year's theme is particularly noteworthy: 'Gender Differences in Pain Awareness'. Pain, an unavoidable feeling in our lives, actually hides the secret of gender? Let's explore together.

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Firstly, let's clarify what pain is. Pain is an unpleasant feeling and emotional sensation, often accompanied by existing or potential tissue damage. From the perspective of the disease course, pain can be divided into acute pain and chronic pain. Acute pain has a short duration, usually not exceeding 3 months, while chronic pain lasts for 3 months or more. From the perspective of location and source, pain can be divided into headaches, neck and shoulder pain, chest and abdominal pain, lower back and leg pain, or soft tissue pain, joint pain, neuralgia, etc.

Don't think that pain is just a small sensation, it can be a big problem. Pain not only makes our mental and emotional state restless, but also affects multiple systems such as endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems. Long term chronic pain may even make people feel indifferent and depressed. In addition, pain may also lower our immunity and increase the risk of infection. So, although the pain is small, the harm can be significant!

The theme of this year's World Pain Relief Day is "Focusing on Gender Differences in Pain". You may not know that there are indeed gender differences in the perception and regulation of pain. Research has shown that women tend to have stronger pain sensitivity and pain response than men. Pain perception begins with nociceptive stimuli acting on receptors, which are then transmitted through nerves to the brain for processing. During this process, sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone play a crucial role. Research has shown that estrogen can enhance pain sensitivity, while testosterone may have a certain analgesic effect. Therefore, women may be more sensitive to pain during physiological states such as menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum period, and menopause due to changes in hormone levels. In addition to these physiological reasons, it is also related to socio-cultural factors. For example, women may be more inclined to express pain, while men may be more inclined to endure it. This difference is often overlooked in pain research and treatment, so this year's theme aims to raise our awareness of this issue.

Gender differences are also significant in pain treatment. Due to the higher sensitivity of women to pain, they often require more intense treatment to achieve the same analgesic effect. However, gender bias that has existed throughout history has often led to women's pain being overlooked or misdiagnosed, reducing their chances of receiving appropriate treatment. In addition, women are more inclined to use non pharmacological therapies such as hot compress, massage, etc. in pain management, while men may be more inclined towards pharmacological or surgical treatment, reflecting gender differences in pain coping strategies.

In the face of pain, we cannot blindly endure it, but should actively seek the cause and treat it accordingly. There are various treatment methods, including drug therapy, physical therapy, surgical treatment, etc. For acute pain, we can use methods such as cold compress and hot compress to relieve the pain; For chronic pain, personalized treatment plans need to be developed based on the condition. At the same time, some natural therapies such as yoga, massage and acupuncture and moxibustion can also effectively relieve pain.

Of course, the best method is to prevent the occurrence of pain. Here are some practical daily preventive measures:

Whether sitting or standing, keep your spine straight and avoid bowing or hunching over for long periods of time.

Regularly engage in aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, running, swimming, etc; It can enhance cardiovascular function, improve the body's metabolic level, and also help relieve muscle tension and pain.

3. Reasonable diet:

Ensure adequate intake of nutrients, eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and reduce intake of high calorie, high-fat, and high sugar foods.

Overweight can increase the burden on joints and easily cause pain. Maintaining a reasonable weight can help prevent joint pain and other pains from occurring.

Ensure sufficient sleep time every day to give the body adequate rest and recovery. Lack of sleep can lead to physical fatigue and increase the risk of pain.

Although the pain is small, it cannot be ignored. It is not only physical discomfort, but also psychological torment. By understanding the causes, classifications, harms, and gender differences of pain, we can better prevent and treat it. Let's start from daily life, pay attention to pain, care for ourselves, and enjoy a painless and beautiful life!