Pain is an unpleasant feeling that may affect your general well-being. The feeling can be an ache, sting, prick, or burn. This situation can aggravate other health conditions and lead to depression and anxiety symptoms. Many people often treat pain by taking drugs which mostly have negative side effects. Treating pain with drugs can be addictive and costly and might not even work. In 2011, researchers estimated that annual pain-related treatment costs were nearly $600 billion in the US. Thankfully, there are non-medicated options that effectively deal with pain. Here are some to consider.
Exercise
Exercise may reduce pain because it strengthens muscles and triggers the body to produce endorphins that relieve pain. Walking for at least 30 minutes 3 to 5 times weekly can help boost endurance, strength and heart health. If walking is a challenge, start slow and work your way up to longer walks as you get stronger. If you use a walker or cane, take it with you. You can swim to reduce stress on your joints and muscles. It is also a great way to clear your mind. If you have chronic pain, try stretch exercises to relieve tension and stiffness. Try equipment-free stretches for the back and neck to improve overall mobility and facilitate proper movements.
Massage
Therapeutic massage may reduce pain in several ways, such as relaxing painful muscles, tendons, and joints and relieving stress and anxiety. You can use deep-tissue massage if you have muscle problems such as soreness, injury, imbalance, and tightness. While this may be intense, you shouldn't experience soreness or pain. The process lasts for 60 to 90 minutes. Sports massage is ideal if you have a repetitive use injury to a muscle, such as what you may get from athletics. It helps increase flexibility, relieve pain and reduce anxiety. It can be done as a full-body massage or a specific body part that needs the most attention.
Consider vitamin D
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient your body needs for building and maintaining strong bones. It helps prevent conditions such as depression, diabetes, and heart disease. When vitamin D levels are low, common symptoms occur such as weak muscles, bone fractures, as well as bone and muscle pain. This is due to the fact that the body struggles to absorb phosphorus and calcium minerals. This issue is exacerbated among the older generation and severe cases are known to heighten the risk of falls. Spend time in sunlight because the sun is one of the best sources of these nutrients. Additionally, consume fatty fish and seafood such as tuna, sardines, oysters, shrimp, and mackerel to boost your heart health. Don't forget to eat more mushrooms and egg yolks for a healthy immune system.
Good sleep
Sleep is a great pain reliever. However, waking up aching and irritable after a poor night's sleep is common. Sleep deprivation directly affects how our body processes pain, leading to more intense discomfort the following day. Pain, mood swings, and other mental health problems are linked to poor sleep. During sleep, your body repairs and regrows tissues, builds muscle and bone, and strengthens your immune system. You should reserve 7 to 8 hours a night for sleep time. Also, maintain a regular wake, work, and exercise routine for consistency. Allow one hour of unwinding time to relax before every sleeping night. Avoid caffeine and alcohol consumption in the evening before bedtime. Remember to create a good sleep environment with comfortable temperatures in a quiet, dark room. If you find sleep difficult, you can try Delta 8 gummies to help improve your sleep routine.
Try cognitive behavioral therapy
This approach enables you to change self-defeating thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that trigger pain. It also helps reduce pain while modulating brain activity. If you're having persistent pain due to arthritis or sore muscles, use talk therapy to help you identify and develop skills to change negative thoughts. Those who experience chronic pain may become inactive and isolated due to fear of worsened pain. However, you can practice activity scheduling to increase and observe pleasant activities. Also, perform an activity for 10 minutes and follow it with 5 minutes of rest. Do this repeatedly to boost your immune system and reduce the pain.
Taking drugs doesn't always reduce pain, and people tend to abuse these pills to relieve the discomfort. If you want relief without health implications, try the natural remedies above to save costs and long-term bad effects.
