The constant battle with chronic pain can significantly impact your quality of life. Lingering aches and sudden spasms reduces motivation to perform both professionally and personally. The need to tend to your body may isolate you from others and create feelings of loneliness. Millions of people live with chronic pain every day, and one in three women-identifying Americans endure its debilitating effects. Women are disproportionately plagued with chronic pain and are more likely to experience more than one condition at a time than men. Chronic fatigue, endometriosis, osteoarthritis, and vulvodynia are just a few of the pain-inducing ailments that women suffer from every day.
A common misconception surrounding chronic pain is that it only impacts older demographics. Truth be told, aging plays a pivotal role in pain-related conditions, but women in their thirties are not immune to chronic pain. The ever-increasing pace of life heightens the risk of developing illnesses in early life stages. Sadly, over half of millennials have received a life-altering diagnosis before reaching their peak golden years.
Regardless of age, women shouldn’t have to surrender control to chronic pain. That said, consider these five ways women can empower their bodies and take the reins on their health.
Exercise
Routine exercise is an inexpensive and effective treatment for chronic pain. Regular movement can decrease inflammation and maintain mobility without the use of medication. A combination of stretching, cardio, and strength-building exercise may eliminate your pain over time. If hitting the gym isn’t your style, consider investing in exercise equipment like the air bike. This three-in-one machine offers a low-impact cardio workout and increased blood flow to healing areas in your body. A reliable machine like the Assault AirBike may be the solution to your chronic pain.
Mindful breathing
Deep breathing helps your mind find a sense of peace and releases tension in the body. Inhale deeply from your belly and hold for a count of seven. Slowly release air as you count from one to eight. Releasing stress allows you to focus on your bodies’ sensations and reach painless relaxation.
Alternative medicine
When combined with reliable medication or used alone, alternative medicine can ease chronic pain. Holistic health practices like acupuncture, magnetic therapy, and herbal medicine have tremendously reduced chronic illnesses’ painful symptoms.
For example, biofeedback, a relatively new therapy innovation, allows chronic pain sufferers to control subtle bodily reactions. During a biofeedback session, electrodes are connected to your body while you consciously relax. Beeps will reflect fluctuations in your pulse or temperature on a monitor. With practice, you will learn to control those beeps and be able to train your biological system. In most cases, patients utilize biofeedback therapy to prevent and treat migraines, high blood pressure, and chronic pain.
Healthy eating
A well-balanced diet feeds your body in all the right ways. In addition to reducing the risk of heart disease, controlling weight, and improving blood sugar levels, healthy foods can ease physical pain. Power foods like ginger and blueberries reduce inflammation and even relieve troublesome period cramps. Unbeknownst to most, red wine contains properties that decrease swelling in the back, so go ahead and indulge in a glass or two.
Positive thinking
It’s easy to stay fixated on a pulsing ache in your body, but obsessive thinking increases stress levels closely connected with pain. Avoid negative thoughts such as “Why did this have to be me?” or “This pain will never go away.” Instead, retrain your mind with thoughts of gratitude and practice self-affirmation. Keep a gratitude journal and document all the positive things that exist in your life. Don’t allow pain to dictate your happiness.
Rest assured, female powerhouses worn down by debilitating chronic pain can successfully manage their chronic pain symptoms and continue radiating vibrant girl power well into their 30s.
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