Effects of Pain on the Body

Pain is not harmless. Chronic pain can affect the body both physically and emotionally.

Untreated or unrelieved pain can cause or contribute to the following:

• The ability of the body to recover from illness.
• Spikes in blood pressure which can lead to heart attacks or strokes.
• Feelings of weakness or fatigue.
• Nausea.
• Loss of appetite.
• Difficulty sleeping and disturbances of sleep patterns.
• Drowsiness.
• Mood swings, including feeling helpless, angry, irritable, anxious, depressed, or even suicidal.
• High levels of hormones that cause stress on the lungs and heart.
• Difficulty with concentration.
• Inactivity.
• Disruption of daily activities.
• Increase in depression, anxiety and social isolation.
• Loss of interest in normal activities, such as personal appearance, work, recreation, and personal relationships.

Pain can also cause clinical depression and/or anxiety. Both are treatable.

or additional information, see:

• What Is Pain?
• What Causes Pain?
• Pain 101