A new study has shown that people suffering from chronic pain may be at higher risk of developing high blood pressure.
Both the location and extent of the pain, as well as suffering from depression, play a significant role in this risk.
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The researchers used data from the UK Biobank, which includes over 500,000 adults. They analyzed data from 206,963 adults over a follow-up period of 13.5 years. The study focused on whether participants experienced chronic pain and how it affected their blood pressure, while also measuring depression and inflammation levels.
The findings revealed that individuals reporting chronic pain throughout their bodies were more likely to develop high blood pressure compared to those without pain or those with short-term or localized pain.
Key results:
About 10% of participants developed high blood pressure.
People with chronic pain in multiple areas of the body had a 75% higher risk of developing high blood pressure.
Chronic pain in specific areas such as the abdomen, neck, and back was associated with a 16%–43% increased risk of high blood pressure.
Depression and inflammation were found to play a major role, accounting for 11.7% of the link between chronic pain and high blood pressure.
Dr. Jill Bell, the study’s lead researcher and professor of public health at the University of Glasgow, said:
“The broader the scope of chronic pain, the higher the risk of high blood pressure.”
She added:
“This is because chronic pain can lead to depression, which in turn increases the likelihood of developing high blood pressure. Early detection and treatment of depression may help reduce this risk.”
Dr. Daniel W. Jones, professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi, noted that although physicians know pain can temporarily raise blood pressure, this study enhances understanding of how chronic pain affects blood pressure over the long term.
The researchers called for further studies to determine how different treatments for chronic pain impact blood pressure. They also recommended caution with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, which can also elevate blood pressure.
At the same time, the researchers noted that the study mostly included white adults in the UK, which may not reflect the effects of chronic pain on other ethnic or cultural groups. Self-reported pain was also relied upon, which could affect the accuracy of the results.
— Medical Express
