Young adults suffer from chronic pain more often than older adults: alarming trend
Young adults suffer from chronic pain more often than older adults: alarming trend
young adults with chronic pain use cannabis and CBD oil for pain relief
According to a new survey by the Harris Poll, which was carried out online on behalf of the Samueli Foundation, young adults aged 18 to 34 report more often about chronic pain compared to older adults (65% vs. 52% for over 35 year olds). A large majority of them (73%) stated that they suffer from pain every day. More than every fifth young adults with chronic pain (22%) uses cannabis and/or CBD oil for pain relief and is therefore twice as often as the age group of over 45-year-olds (11%).
Young adults are looking for help from health service providers
The survey also showed that young adults with chronic pain - most often in the back (32%), in the neck and in the knees (20%each) - are looking for help from health service providers to cope with their pain. Almost three out of ten young adults with chronic pain (29%) state that they have been talking to their doctors over their pain more often since the beginning of the pandemic, compared to only 15% among those over 45. However, three quarters of young adults (75%) also indicate that they do not know which health service provider can best help you with coping with your pain.
important approaches to coping with pain
The survey shows that 78% of adults use non-drug treatments with chronic pain, while 70% use pharmacological treatments. The most common approaches are over-the-counter pain relievers (53%), followed by physical movement (43%), heat/cold (34%), healthy diet (26%), cannabis/CBD (16%), physiotherapy (15%), massage therapy (15%) and yoga (14%). Since the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic, two thirds of the respondents have stated with chronic pain (66%) of having changed their pain management. Some people now use over -the -counter medication (37%), physical exercise (35%) and healthy nutrition (25%) for coping with pain than before pandemic.
Interest in non-drug treatments
Most of the Americans with chronic pain is interested in non-drug treatments. Of those who are currently not using these treatments, they state 80%of being interested in healthy eating, 71%of physical exercise and more than three out of five people would be interested in trying out massage therapy (68%), physiotherapy (62%) or stress-reducing measures such as mindfulness-based stress reduction or meditation (61%).
Need of better pain management
The quality of life of Americans with chronic pain probably also suffers and the majority would like more help and guidance to cope with pain. More than 4 out of 5 Americans with chronic pain (83%) say that their quality of life would improve significantly if they could better manage their pain, and 79% would like their pain to be taken more seriously. In addition, 68% indicate that you would like to have more information about how you can better manage your chronic pain.
Regular discussions with health service providers
"This should be a wake-up call for doctors that your patients are looking for more information about you about coping with your chronic pain, especially in the case of non-medication," said Wayne Jonas, MD, Executive Director of Integrative Health Programs at Samueli Foundation. "It is up to the healthcare service providers in the entire health system to have regular discussions with the patients in order to find the best ways to cope with their pain in everyday life."
Source: The Reis Group