In 2019 (the most recent year for which data is available), 47,500 people committed suicide—twice the number who died from homicides—reports the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That's a 32 percent increase since 1999. What’s more, notes the CDC, emergency room visits for non-fatal self-harm incidents, a sometimes-prelude to suicide, increased 42 percent in the 15 years from 2001 to 2016.
What accounts for this uptick in suicide and suicide attempts? The answer is complicated and multifaceted. But one undeniable factor is America’s burgeoning problem with chronic pain.
The Pain / Suicide Connection
Chronic pain—something 25 million Americans suffer with,...
In a study of 515 healthcare staff working in intensive care units (ICUs) across seven countries, the researchers found that on average 48 percent of participants showed signs of...
At the age of 21, I was diagnosed with multiple spine and pelvis disorders which flipped my life upside down. Health professionals label me as the "21-year-old with a 90-year-old spine". The main cause of my declining spine? Degenerative disc disease.
What is Degenerative Disc Disease?
Believe it or not, degenerative disc disease (DDD) isn’t classified as an actual disease. Instead,...
Rosacea and eczema are two common skin conditions with very similar symptoms. Combined, the two chronic skin conditions affect over 30 million people in the United States alone. If you’re struggling with a recurring skin condition, you may be asking yourself, “what’s the difference...
The expressions “just walk it off” and “grin and bear it" are common. The problem with these sayings is that they don’t really work in the world of chronic pain. Such pain can be more than something you can just live with; it's likely something you struggle with throughout...
Harry Miller couldn't have chosen a better setting or a better advocate for a near cataclysm. It just didn't seem that way a year ago, shortly before the 2021 college football season. The Ohio State center, who made an appointment with Ryan Day, told his coach he was thinking...
If you have frequent pain, you’ve probably tried everything under the sun to get relief. Patches can offer convenient, on-the-go relief for back pain,...
There’s a growing trend toward alternative healing methods. Some—like acupuncture, yoga, and massage—are supported by research and offered by many medical center integrative medicine programs. Others—like energy healing—are more controversial. Read on to learn about a form of energy healing called biofeedback therapy, if it has any evidence-based benefits,...
Coconut Blueberry Smoothie
The recipe outlines a nutritious "Coconut Blueberry Smoothie." To prepare this vibrant and healthy beverage, combine coconut water or coconut milk with...