Coping with chronic pain

When you feel pain, whether it’s from a bee sting or a toothache, it’s your body’s way of telling you that something needs immediate attention. Chronic pain, however, is defined as lingering pain that lasts longer than three months. It can affect your everyday life and lead to mental health issues. Work together with your doctor to address the source of the problem and try these tips for dealing with chronic pain:

• Deep breathing and meditation can help you relax.

• Reduce stress, which can intensify chronic pain. Massage can help.

• Release natural endorphins with regular exercise. Find a way to stay active without triggering additional pain.

• Cut back on alcohol, drug and tobacco use. Substance abuse affects sleep patterns, which can exacerbate chronic pain.

• Track your pain level every day. Rank each day on a scale of 1 to 10 and note what activities make it better or worse.

• Eat healthy. A balanced diet will aid digestion, reduce your risk of heart disease and improve your blood sugar level.

Source: WebMD