He painIt is logical that it has a predominantly physical origin, but also a high psychological component. This is why placebos and some pseudotherapies are much more effective as painkillers than for treating some diseases. But this unconscious and psychological control of pain also manifests itself through such curious factors as the general sensation Less pain when the person who caused it young woman.
This is the conclusion of a study conducted by Anna Sellgren Engskova, doctoral student Lund University, in Sweden. In fact, this research is the topic of his dissertation presented today.
A scientist has shown that women can help other people feel less pain through two experiments, one in two parts. The first was carried out entirely in the laboratory. On the other hand, the second was done. on the spotwith real patients recently operated on in Skåne University Hospitalfrom Malmö, also in Sweden.
Less pain in the receptors
This study was based on nociceptive pain perception. This is what happens when there is some kind of injury. like a wound, burn or blowand substances are released that bind to receptors called receptors, which send signals to the brain through nerves, which are then translated as feeling of pain.
Another type of pain that exists is neuropathic, in which damage occurs directly in those nerves through which signals are transmitted, without affecting the nociceptors. This is, for example, pain that occurs when a nerve is pinched, with sciatica, or due to infections such as herpes zoster, a virus that attacks nerve fibers.
Women who calm you down
In the first experiment of this study, nociceptive pain was induced in two ways. Let’s start with the fact that the scientist dressed exactly the samestimulated laser on legs volunteers, causing them a slight sensation of pain. These volunteers had to indicate their perception of pain so that if it was low, the laser intensity would be increased.
Curious, male volunteers They reported feeling less pain when the person using the laser was a woman. Therefore, I had to increase the intensity.
In the second experiment, volunteers were asked to inflict pain on themselves using a button that slight electric shock. The experiment was under the supervision of a man or womanwho were responsible for asking them about their perception of pain. Curious, both men and women They reported that they felt less pain when the experiment was carried out under the supervision of a scientist.
Will the same thing happen in a hospital?
The author of the study wanted to know whether the same thing would happen when conducting experiments with real patients. Therefore, in collaboration with the staff of the university hospital, he recruited Recently, 245 people have been operated on.
All volunteers were interviewed about their pain levels after surgery. It was exactly the same, but in some cases it was performed by a man, and in others by a woman. In this case, when the patients were women, there was no difference, but when the patients were men, they said they felt less pain. if the interviewer were a woman.
The psychological factor is important
Neither the author of the dissertation nor its supervisor, professor Jonas Akeson, clearly present the reasons for the study results. It is clear that this must be some kind of psychological factor, and they believe that it may be related to sympathy. Women tend to be more empathetic and show more smiles and a calm demeanor when talking to people in pain. Thus, unbeknownst to both the patient and the woman accompanying him, they could calm the patients and thereby help them feel less pain.
Of course, this could be unconscious boasting. The inability of some men to recognize a woman in pain. However, given that some experiments have replicated the results in female volunteers, it is worth exploring. After all, there are already other studies that show that people treated by doctors or nurses they feel less pain than when treated by men. This does not mean that men are bad health care workers. The difference is minimal, but fun to delve into.
Source: Hiper Textual
