The Pain Epidemic

In the United States, there is an epidemic of chronic pain. The 2015 Sleep in AmericaTM Poll found that 21% of Americans experience chronic pain. It also found that 36 percent of people have experienced acute pain in the last week. Some contributing to this pain epidemic are:

• Sitting all day at desk jobs is not good for our health
• Increased inactivity due to increased screen time
• Obesity
• Stress
• Injuries from sports and high activity
• Genetics and inherit weak backs, necks, knees, etc.

Obviously, pain is an issue because it makes life miserable.

The Overlap Between Pain Impacts and Sleep Deprivation Impacts on Life

Pain, whether acute or chronic, can make life miserable. It affects the ability to:

• Be happy
• Managing stress
• Stay motivated
• Stay physically active
• Sleep

Pain’s effect on sleep is particularly vicious, and it causes sleep deprivation, which in turn worsens the side effects of pain. For example, 37% of people with chronic pain reported elevated stress level compared to 7% of pain-free people who reported the same.

Statistics on Pain and Sleep vs. People Without Pain

Here are some pointed statistics that show you the direct link between pain and sleep:

• People with chronic pain had an average nightly sleep debt of 42 minutes (i.e. getting 42 minutes less sleep than they should)
• People with acute pain in the last week had an average sleep debt of 14 minutes
• 65% of people with no pain reported good or very good sleep quality
• 45% of people with acute pain in the last week reported good or very good sleep quality
• 37% of people with chronic pain in the last week reported good or very good sleep quality
• 23% of people with chronic pain reported being diagnosed with a sleep disorder by a doctor, compared to just 6% of pain free people. It’s quite a sobering statistic

Acute and chronic pain impact both sleep time and sleep quality. This is particularly true in the case of chronic pain, which significantly impacts sleep and puts people at great risk for developing moderate to severe sleep deprivation.

What to Do If You Have Chronic Pain

If you deal with chronic pain, there are things you can do to hedge your chances of getting good sleep

Even if you are in chronic pain and are unable to live without tit, there are things you can do to help yourself sleep despite the pain:

• Limit caffeine consumption as much as possible
• Don’t drink caffeine after noon
• Cut alcohol in the hours leading up to bed
• Be extremely careful using pain killer or sleeping pills, as they significantly aggravate certain sleeping disorders
• Practice relaxation activities before bed, such as yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises
• Find exercises that you can do that don’t aggravate your pain, such as swimming, cycling, running, and Pilates
• Eat a healthy diet

These changes can make a huge difference in sleep time and quality, especially for those with chronic pain.

If you live in Alaska, have pain, and can’t seem to sleep no matter what you do, please reach out to us by taking this free sleep survey.