Over a hundred million Americans suffer from chronic pain. In fact, more Americans suffer from chronic pain than from diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases combined. When discussing chronic pain, it’s important not to confuse it with acute pain. Acute pain is a sensation triggered to alert you from injury and to stop you from doing something harmful. For example, if you accidentally cut yourself, the pain alerts you to stop cutting yourself as soon as possible.
Chronic pain, however, is a persistent pain that’s felt for weeks, months, or even years on end. It can be caused by an initial injury or an ongoing illness, although in some cases there is no clear cause. Common areas of chronic pain are lower back, shoulders, and neck. The intensity of the pain varies from patient to patient, but in almost all cases it has a negative impact on life quality.
Researchers and pharmaceutical companies are always looking to find ways to relieve that pain. And they’re finding increasingly effective ways to do so. Recently, President Trump signed the Farm Bill, which removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act.
This allowed FDA-registered companies such as CBDMEDIC to help relieve pain with their products. These products, combined with the following 5 ways to naturally relieve pain, help up the quality of life for those suffering.
- Have Some Chocolate
We might as well start with a good one. Studies have shown that eating sweets like cookies, chocolate, or ice cream can momentarily relieve pain. Pleasant scents reduce the perception of pain too, so you might consider baking those cookies yourself, if you have the cooking chops.
- Cool Down Your Joints
If you’re suffering from joint pain, it’s likely that your joints are inflamed. Ice can reduce this inflammation. Additionally, the cold interrupts pain signals, because it slows down nerve impulses. So wrap an ice sack in a towel and put it on the joint that hurts.
- An Anti-Inflammatory Diet
A diet such as the Pan Asian Modified Mediterranean diet has many health benefits, but its main benefit is that you eat fewer foods that can cause an inflammatory response. You focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and low-glycemic carbs. This diet will make you healthier in the long run, so you might not immediately feel pain relief, but it will show many positive effects eventually.
- Work Out
It’s normal that you’re not very motivated to work out when you’re in pain. But regular, moderate exercise is very good for you. But the key word here is moderate. Don’t overdo it, because that might actually increase inflammation and pain. Fifteen to twenty minutes of non-strenuous exercise will reduce your feeling of pain, along with many other cardiovascular health benefits.
- Soak in the Sun
Even ten minutes of sun every day helps your body produce vitamin D. Studies have shown that people with regular vitamin D intake experience less pain that those who don’t get that daily intake. The recommended dosage is 400-800 IU a day.
These are just a few ways of how you can relieve chronic pain. Combine this with products from CBDMEDIC and you’ll find a routine where you can manage your pain to lead an even more fulfilling and happy life.