Ten Effective Tips to Cope with Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is associated with many types of diseases, from mild to life-threatening ones. This is the reason why finding a way to manage it is of utmost importance. Here are ten effective tips on how to manage chronic pain!

1. Breathing Properly

As reported by researchers at Viscoseen University, breathing properly is a good way to relieve pain. Slow and deep breathing in acute pain helps you feel more relaxed, hence feel much better.  Additionally, deep breathing is an effective way to alleviate bone and muscle pain.

2. Stay Hydrated

Dehydration is directly linked with a loss of minerals from the body and triggering head and back pain. Hence, aim at drinking enough fluids in order to protect yourself from pain of any kind.  Many people reach for juice, soda, or coffee to hydrate the body, but these drinks are not that good-for-you and basically do more harm than good.

3. Engage in Meditation

While practicing meditation while feeling pain can be difficult, becoming successful in it notably reduces the pain. This is not an anecdotal report only, but it has been backed up by science, too. According to a 2011 study, meditation and pranayama can reduce pain by up to 11-70%

4. Avoid Alcohol

Sleep becomes disrupted when one feels pain and alcohol intake worsens the condition even more. Therefore, those suffering from chronic pain should avoid alcohol at all costs if they are to improve the quality of their life.

5. Eat a Balanced Diet

According to a research published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, a diet that uses no or little processed foods helps reduce chronic pain. It is recommended to consume more green leafy veggies, asparagus, foods rich in omega-3 fats, pineapple, plums, and cherries.

6. Reduce Stress

Anxiety, stress, anger, and depression are negative emotions that increase the likelihood of feeling physical pain. On the other hand, reducing stress and keeping it in check helps relieve chronic pain. Music is one of the best ways to alleviate stress, working as natural painkiller.

7. Eat Turmeric

This spice is all the rage these days, and for a very good reason. It is packed with healing properties, particularly anti-inflammatory, which makes it effective in alleviating many health conditions. Its active ingredient called curcumin has been scientifically shown to reduce pain in virtually any part of the body.

8. Yoga

Yoga is one of the best and easiest ways to alleviate chronic pain. Not only it promotes flexibility and mobility, but it also helps reduce stress and relax the mind. This is the reason why people from all around the world turn use yoga as stress reliever and natural painkiller.

9. Proper Seating

Not only it helps reduce already existing pain, but maintain the proper posture also prevents pain from re-occurring. If your job requires sitting for an extended period of time, make sure your take a break at regular intervals. According to the Journal of Neuroscience, seating slip may damage the nerves and restrict blood flow. To prevent back and neck pain, keep the head and spinal cord straight while sitting.

10. Talk about Pain

According to the American Psychological Association, talking about the pain you`re feeling helps reduce it. Some of the best techniques you can use include cognitive behavior therapy, guided fiction, and biofeedback.

In addition to these tips, it is also recommended to get a good night`s sleep, keep in touch with friends and family members, and read books on pain in order to be well-informed on the topic.