Some people say they have a high pain threshold. Here’s why

We’ve all heard someone claim to have a “high pain threshold,” as if it was a sign of strength and resilience. But does science support the idea that some people actually feel less pain than others?

Pain is an experience shaped by our psychology and social context, with many variables.

In our interviews with children about their experiences with pain, many people joint pain to “hardness”. Social expectations seem to shape our understanding of pain from an early age.

There are also many misconceptions about pain thresholds that contribute to this Inequalities in health care that affect millions of people.

What is (and what is not) the pain threshold?

Pain threshold, technically, refers to the point at which an event – ​​such as heat, icy, or pressure – becomes painful.

This is not the same as pain tolerance, which measures how much pain someone can endure before needing relief.

Although these two terms are often confused in everyday language, they describe different aspects of the pain experience. There is a distinction between them keyespecially in research settings.

How stable is your pain threshold?

The stability of the pain threshold is controversial and probably depends on how it is tested. Some techniques cause quite consistent results.

But the pain threshold may be morezone of uncertainty” than a fixed point of transition from pain to pain.

We argued that variability in a person’s pain threshold could provide valuable information to support us in the future understand their risks chronic pain and the best options for its treatment.

Biological influence on pain threshold

Many biological factors influence the pain threshold. For now, let’s focus on genetics, hormones, and the nervous and immune systems.

Gender and gender differences

Men often feel like this higher pain threshold than women under experimental conditions. This may be due to hormonal differences, such as the effects of testosterone.

On the other hand, they may reflect gender differences in pain sensitivity social norms which require more stoicism from men than from women.

Rude question

Some studies have shown that people with red hair may experience pain differently due to MC1R (melanocortin-1 receptor) gene variant.

However, the mechanisms underlying this finding are not clear yet. For example, redheads may have a lower pain threshold for certain harmful threats, such as heat, but a higher threshold for others, e.g. electricity. Overall, the evidence is there far from settled.

The nervous system in chronic pain

This may occur in some people with long-term pain lower pain threshold. This may be due to central sensitization, where the nervous system appears to be on increased alert to potentially harmful events.

It is not yet clear whether some people have a lower pain threshold before they develop chronic pain, or whether the threshold falls later. However, the presence of central sensitization may assist clinicians consider what treatments will work best.

The immune system and pain thresholds

The immune system can influence nerve signals and pain thresholds. Inflammation of the body, e.g. during a icy or flu, can lower your pain threshold quite suddenly.

Many people have experienced a short-lived version of central sensitization caused by inflammation COVID. Suddenly, the smallest things would cause a headache or body ache.

Acute trauma, such as a sprained ankle, also causes inflammation, which lowers the pain threshold. One of the reasons ice helps with an ankle sprain is to control inflammation at the site of the injury so that the pain threshold can return somewhat to normal.

All these biological factors (and more) are just the beginning of the pain threshold puzzle.

Psychological influences

Psychological factors such as anxiety, fear and worry about pain associated with a lower pain threshold.

On the other hand, strategies such as mindfulness and relaxation may raise the pain threshold.

Social influences on pain thresholds

Cultural norms shape the way we perceive and express pain. Some cultures encourage stoicism, while others normalize openly expressing discomfort.

These norms influence the way health care professionals interpret and treat pain, often leads to disproportions. Researchers are currently trying to identify these types of social influences on pain.

Implications for pain management

Understanding pain thresholds is not just an academic exercise; this has practical implications for healthcare. Misjudging someone’s pain can lead to inappropriate treatment or overuse of pain medications.

Studies have shown that women and people from minority groups are more likely to do this free yourself from the pain by health care providers.

We need to better understand pain thresholds to enable tailored pain management. A holistic perspective can transform the way pain is treated and introduce a more supportive, helpful version of personalized health care.

Pain is as diverse and intricate as the people who experience it, from genetics to psychology and culture.