September is recognized as Pain Awareness Month. As the month comes to a close, we want to help bring awareness to the issue of chronic pain, which affects an estimated 20.9% of adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More specifically, we want to discuss the link between chronic pain and heart health, which has been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease for certain individuals.

As you continue reading below, we’ll address what chronic pain is, how it can affect heart health and other aspects of your well-being, and what you can do to address it.

What is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain refers to prolonged periods of pain affecting any part of the body for three or more months, as explained by the Cleveland Clinic. It might be described as shooting, burning, throbbing, aching, or squeezing pain, or any combination of these sensations. Some of the common types of chronic pain include:

• Joint pain or discomfort
• Back pain
• Headaches and migraines
• Fibromyalgia
• Nerve pain

The root cause of chronic pain can be a myriad of issues, stemming from injuries to disease and infection. Thus, it can be a complex — and often frustrating — issue. Patients may need to meet with a healthcare provider to understand the various factors that could be contributing to chronic pain and discuss personalized treatment options.

The Stress of Chronic Pain on the Heart

Because chronic pain is ongoing and may not have a simple solution, it can be an overwhelming condition to deal with. It might cause you to lose sleep, stop or reduce the frequency of physical exercise, and have increased feelings of depression and anxiety. As a result, the continued mental and physical anguish of chronic pain can elevate your blood pressure and heart rate for prolonged periods of time, putting undue stress on your heart.

In fact, a study published in 2020 shows that those with chronic pain may have an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Even when accounting for other risk factors for heart disease like diabetes, the researchers found that people with chronic pain were 20% more likely to suffer a heart attack and 30% more likely to have a stroke.

Thus, given the close relationship between chronic pain and heart health, it’s important for those experiencing long-term pain symptoms to speak with their healthcare provider to discuss treatment options that help prevent and mitigate adverse side effects.

Managing Chronic Pain for Better Heart Health

The treatment for chronic pain will vary from person to person depending on their unique circumstances and doctor’s recommendations. However, learning how to manage and live with chronic pain can help ease some of the additional physical and psychological side effects that we’ve discussed throughout.

 The Mayo Clinic discusses a number of coping strategies for those living with chronic pain, including:

• Practicing mindfulness through meditation or other similar practices
• Getting active with exercises appropriate to your abilities
• Engaging in meaningful activities that make you feel happy or fulfilled
• Completing breathing exercises
• Setting realistic goals for yourself
• Getting enough sleep
• Surrounding yourself with a good support system