Chronic Pain: Understanding its Prevalence and Effect on Daily Life
Are you among the 50 million US adults living with chronic pain? The impact of chronic pain on an individual’s livelihood, healthcare costs, and productivity cannot be overstated. In this article, we delve into recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Health Interview Survey, exploring the prevalence of chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain among various population groups. We highlight the need for tailored approaches to address chronic pain and the potential root causes. If you or someone you know is living with chronic pain, this article is a must-read. Gain insights into ways to manage and reduce its impact on your daily life, with the right support and guidance.
Are you among the millions of US adults who suffer from chronic pain? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic pain affects 1 in every 5 individuals. That’s a staggering 50 million people. Chronic pain can impact anyone, regardless of age, gender, or socioeconomic status. It’s a condition that is prevalent and can cause significant restrictions to daily activities.
In 2016, the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee released the National Pain Strategy, emphasizing the need for more precise estimates of chronic pain’s prevalence and its impact on various population groups. Recently, researchers from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) observed that chronic pain prevalence in US adults ranged from 20.5% to 21.8% from 2019 to 2021, with an estimated 51.6 million adults experiencing chronic pain in 2021.
If you are an adult, born in the United States,
you are statistically at a greater risk for chronic pain.
High-impact chronic pain, which significantly affects daily activities, ranged from 6.9% to 7.8%, with an estimated 17.1 million US adults experiencing it. The impact of chronic pain on an individual’s livelihood, healthcare costs, and productivity cannot be overstated. It’s essential to address chronic pain proactively.
Interestingly, certain subpopulations are at a greater risk of chronic pain. These include American Indian or Alaska Native adults, adults with a family income under the federal poverty level, adults who identify as bisexual, adults who are divorced or separated, and adults born in the U.S. Yes, you read that right, being an adult born in the United States puts you at a higher risk for chronic pain. Among all chronic medical conditions, adults with a history of encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome and dementia report the greatest prevalence of chronic pain.
It’s worth noting that the subpopulation which include these individuals with chronic illnesses are defined using non-biologic elements like economics, relationship issues, country of origin and identity. This indicates that there may be a functional root cause underlying these groups indicating an environmental or lifestyle component to this chronic pain. This information highlights the need for tailored approaches to address chronic pain and the need to explore the potential root causes.
If you are living with chronic pain, there are ways to manage and reduce its impact on your daily life. Seek professional help and advice to develop an individualized pain management plan that considers your unique situation. Remember, you are not alone, and with the right support and guidance, chronic pain need not define your life.