WOMEN ARE YOU IGNORING YOUR PAIN?
To make aware of pain-related issues affecting women every day all around the world, the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR STUDY OF PAIN started a campaign named “REAL WOMEN, REAL PAIN.”
Gender differences in pain were the topic of research. The physiological and physical insight of pain is different in men and women.
Studies show that women’s pain is taken less seriously than men’s pain. Therefore women receive less treatment than men. This differentiation is done by family members as well as healthcare providers.
COMMON REASONS WHY WOMEN NEGLECT THEIR PAIN
1. Women generally have better pain tolerance, so they neglect their pain in most serious cases too.
2. Lack of support and understanding is also another reason women ignore their pain
3. Most homemakers and old ladies think they are a financial burden on their husbands and sons, so they neglect their pain until it worsens.
4. Periodically, it is seen that inability to communicate with a male doctor because of the gender barrier often leads to wrong treatment or no treatment at all.
Women need to understand their pain at the onset itself and are seeking proper management. Neglection often ends in chronicity. In case of chronic ache other than a medical examination with the aid of a treating physician, underlying psychological problems like stress at home or work or loss of sleep should be addressed for the best possible outcomes.