7 unexpected pain relief methods

A survey in the United States shows that 9 out of 10 people suffer from pain in different parts of the body. These pains are also divided into "lightness, severity, and urgency". In addition to those that require going to the hospital or taking medicine, there are some minor pains that people have to endure. Recently, an American magazine integrated the results of multiple studies and summarized several unexpected pain relief methods to help you solve this problem.

Complain

A British study found that complaining can increase the time a person keeps their hands in freezing water by 35%. This may be because venting emotions triggers a series of physical and hormonal responses that can increase people's tolerance for discomfort.

Flip through photos

Before some uncomfortable medical tests, scrolling through photos of your loved ones on your phone can make the procedure more bearable. The experiment found that women were more likely to relieve pain by looking at photos of their partners than by looking at photos of non-close people. This is because photos of close people stimulate the release of specific chemicals that shut down the areas of the brain that sense pain.

Sexual Fantasy

A study by Johns Hopkins University in the United States found that people who think about sexy things can tolerate pain better than serious people. Hamid, a psychology professor at the University of Wisconsin, said that sexual fantasies can divert people's attention from pain, reduce anxiety and make people feel relaxed.

Breathe slowly

Studies have found that when women's breathing rate is slowed by half, their discomfort is significantly reduced. Deep breathing can distract you, and slow, rhythmic breathing can help your body stop its fight-or-flight response to pain.

Smell the green apple

A study by the Chicago Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation found that migraine sufferers experienced significantly reduced pain when they smelled the scent of green apples. The researchers said this may be because attention is distracted, or the smell of green apple itself can relieve tension in the head and neck muscles, thereby alleviating headaches.

Seek comfort from friends

A little help from a friend can go a long way toward helping you cope with stubborn pain, like backache. A Spanish study found that the more comfort people received from friends or loved ones, the more motivated they were to find new ways to cope with pain.

Appreciate the paintings

A study by the University of Bari in Italy found that appreciating the works of your favorite painter can reduce pain by 30%.