The Ouch Factor

Nature has been partial in distributing pain between men and women. Life for us goes in a quagmire of pain and there are many days in a month that we spend in the fog of pain. Beginning from lousy menstrual cramps that holds us captive right from teenage years–not to forget the premenstrual discomfort preceeding it, to the pangs of childbirth, intercourse that may become painful, pain has an inkling to find us in one way or other. Other than gender specific pain, we are more vulnerable to backaches—classic hallmark of osteoporosis (after menopause) , degenerative joint diseases, osteoarthritis and migrane favours us three times more than men. In addition we experience more nausea, vomiting, numbness as well tingling with these headaches. Need we say more! Goes without saying pain engulfs our lives more than men as for many pains we endure, there is no male equivalent.

What can’t be cured has to be endured!

Since we endure so many kinds of pain, we delude ourselves in believing that we are better in tolerating pain. However, given the way life works latest researches have stripped us off this belief. Studies say, women experience higher intensity of pain as they have lower thresholds for pain. A plastic surgeon from Illinois, Bradon J. Wilhelmi, MD and his colleagues have uncovered a physical difference that might help explain it. Women have more nerve fibers, at least in their faces, found, in a study he led, which was published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in October 2005. “So you can deduce that women have more sensation than men.”

Blame it on hormones

Hormones rule our lives–our reactions, our moods and also the intensity of the pain. Research in this area is yielding fascinating results. For example, male experimental animals injected with
estrogen–a female sex hormone, appear to have a lower tolerance for pain-that is, the addition of estrogen appears to lower the pain threshold. Similarly, the presence of testosterone, a male hormone, appears to elevate tolerance for pain in female mice: the animals are simply able to withstand pain better. Female mice deprived of estrogen during experiments react to stress similarly to male animals. Estrogen, therefore, may act as a sort of pain switch, turning on the
ability to recognize pain.

Women are more sensitive to the same sensations and less tolerant than males in part because brain chemistry ebbs and flows with the menstrual cycle. New evidence suggests that certain women patients who experience more severe premenstrual pain symptoms may be
hypersensitive. Some women with migraine headaches complain that the pain gets worse during menstruation. Dr. Praveen Gupta, consultant neurologist with Paras Hospital, Gurgaon says, “Most importantly for many of these pains women endure like PMS, migraine there are women specific therapies which can alleviate their suffering.”

Training

Right from the beginning men are taught to be tough and to take pain in their stride, while it is normal for little girls to weep over a bruised knee. Women focus on the emotional aspect of pain rather than the physical aspect as men do, thus making our pain worse. Needless to say an uplifting emotional environment—a day’s off from work, talking to friend, reading a favourite book, getting more of hugs from children help her respond faster to pain medications.

Perhaps now, the pain will get the legitimate status in women’s lives and not be derided as whining. Also, its purview will broaden and go beyond labor pains. After all, we feel it in our everyday living. “Do not feel that if you are a woman you must have exaggerated reactions to pain. Responses to pain are learned and you can learn too to take pain in your stride. Encompass yourself with positive energy, which will help mitigate chronic pain, concludes Dr. Gupta.

Eight DIY steps to win over pain

1. Learn relaxation techniques—meditation, positive feedback.
2. Try behavioural therapy
3. Communicate with friends and family
4. Pleasant smells may help numb pain sensations.
5. Eat food rich with antioxidants, such as fresh fruits, berries to help reduce arthritis and gout pain.
6. Investigate about nutritional supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin to reduce pain in osteoarthritis.
7. Get enough sleep.
8. Allow yourself occasional indulgence of chocolates.

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