There’s no question that heart health is crucial to overall well-being. From delivering key nutrients to preventing diseases, there are many benefits to a strong, healthy heart. Unfortunately, taking care of your heart is easier said than done. Every year, over 700,000 Americans experience heart disease, making it the leading cause of death in the United States.
When it comes to improving heart health, many people focus on diet, exercise and lifestyle. While these things do affect your heart, they often overshadow another important, impactful factor: chronic pain. Persistent pain is linked to problems such as poor sleep, stress, and decreased activity, all of which can harm your heart. In honor of World Heart Day, we’ll take a closer look at this link and unpack how chronic pain management is essential for better heart health.
What Is Chronic Pain?
In the United States alone, over 50 million people experience chronic pain. Characterized by pain that lasts over three months, chronic pain can be on and off. Some people may endure pain every day, while others have bad days and flare-ups. There are many reasons that you might develop chronic pain, such as the following:
- Injuries: Injuries can make your nerve cells and fibers more sensitive, resulting in pain.
- Medical conditions: Chronic pain is linked to many medical conditions, such as arthritis, cancer, and diabetes.
- Age: Older people are more likely to experience joint inflammation and arthritis, which cause chronic pain.
- Brain chemistry: Your brain has chemicals that suppress pain. If these chemicals stop working, you may experience more persistent, uncomfortable pain.
No matter what the source of chronic pain is, it can lead to serious issues that compromise your cardiovascular health.
How Chronic Pain Impacts Your Heart Health
So, how exactly does chronic pain affect heart health? Chronic pain causes a wide range of uncomfortable symptoms that are linked to heart problems. These include the following:
- Increased stress: Chronic pain puts your body under continuous stress, which triggers the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones raise blood pressure and heart rate, making you more vulnerable to cardiovascular issues like hypertension and heart disease.
- Inflammation: Many chronic pain conditions, including arthritis and autoimmune disorders, are connected to inflammation. Over time, inflammation damages blood vessels and causes plaque buildup in the arteries, which increases heart attack risk.
- Poor sleep: Persistent pain disrupts your sleep, making it difficult to get the recommended seven to nine hours per night. Decreased sleep impedes your body’s ability to regulate blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease.
- Sedentary lifestyle: Chronic pain makes it harder to stay active and exercise. A sedentary lifestyle increases your risk of obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol, all of which can damage your heart.
- Decreased mental health: Experiencing pain on a consistent basis increases the likelihood of mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. Poor mental health encourages bad habits like smoking, unhealthy eating and social isolation, which all cause cardiovascular problems.
Not only does chronic pain worsen your heart health, but cardiovascular issues can exacerbate pain. This leads to a vicious cycle that takes a toll on overall health and well-being.
MAPS: Your Partner in Heart Health
Are you struggling with chronic pain? You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. At MAPS, we offer personalized strategies designed to reduce pain, increase physical activity and improve your life. Our comprehensive treatment plans involve a combination of the following:
- Lifestyle changes: Maintaining a healthy diet, staying active and getting enough sleep are all key to reducing chronic pain and improving heart health.
- Physical therapy: Exercising while battling chronic pain is no easy feat. Physical therapy offers gentle, guided exercises tailored to your needs.
- Interventional solutions: In addition to at-home changes and lifestyle habits, we use hands-on, interventional methods to treat pain. These include injections, nerve blocks and pumps.
Our team will start by carefully assessing your medical history, symptoms and overall condition. Then, we’ll craft a plan that helps manage your chronic pain and promotes better heart health. Ready for a happier, healthier lifestyle? Schedule a consultation today!