Some years ago, we considered the evidence of a possible link between Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and heart problems. Now, according to a study published in the journal, Pain Medicine, it appears that people living with chronic pain of any cause may be at an increased risk of suffering a heart attack or a stroke, compared to those without chronic pain.
The worrying evidence emerged following a study of a staggering 17,614 patients in Taiwan who had used pain medication for at least three months – indicating their pain was chronic. No distinction was made between those taking over-the-counter and prescription painkillers. The most common conditions they suffered were spinal disorders, arthritis, and headaches.
A comparison group of 35,228 people without chronic pain were matched by age and sex to those in the study group. The size of the study meant that the process of identifying people for inclusion took four years, concluding in 2005, with researchers then following their progress over the next ten years.
The findings were stark. After adjusting the results for known risk factors for heart disease, those living with chronic pain were 20% more likely to experience a heart attack and 30% more likely to suffer a stroke than those in the comparison group.
What might explain these results?
The researchers say that long term pain may give rise to a number of factors linked to poor cardiac health, including difficulty exercising, poor sleep, stress, and depression.
Inevitably, diet is also a significant factor. In a paper published in 2019, the authors reported that three-quarters of people in their chronic pain study group “reported engaging in pain-induced comfort eating” and that this “significantly predicted increased BMI”.
While this may prove gloomy reading, do not forget that there is also increasing evidence of the role that dietary choice can play in the long-term management of chronic pain.