According to National Geographic, throughout the last several millennia, pain treatments have been applied in a way that is suitable for everyone. However, experts now have found that women experience pain differently from men and tend to experience chronic pain conditions.
This leads to poor response to common painkillers such as ibuprofen, steroid and opioid.
Biological factors and hormones affect the effectiveness of painkillers
Dr. Jagadish Hiremath, Medical Director at Aasra Super Speciality Hospital (India), pointed out that biological and hormonal factors play an important role in women's reaction to painkillers.
Women often have a higher percentage of body fat and different water composition than men, which affects the distribution of drugs in the body.
In addition, hormones such as estrogen and progesterone also have a strong impact on pain perception and regulate pain conduction.
The fluctuations of these hormones during the menstrual cycle can change the sensitivity of receptors and affect the effectiveness of painkillers, especially opioids.
In addition, differences in the manifestation of pain receptors and neurovasculares cause women to feel pain in another way, thereby affecting the effectiveness of the drug.
Distinguishes in drug metabolism
Women also metabolize drugs differently from men, mainly due to changes in the activity of liver enzymes, especially in cytochrome P450.
This can lead to faster or slower drug metabolism, affecting both the effectiveness and duration of the drug.
For example, certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids can be treated at different speeds, resulting in lower peak levels or faster excretion from the body.
These differences mean that standard doses may not be effective in women, and an appropriate drug use strategy is needed.
Alternative strategies for pain management
Dr. Hiremath suggests that non-medicinal measures such as physical therapy, acupuncture, or transdermal electrical neurostimulation (Tens) can relieve pain without causing side effects throughout the body.
Behavioral cognitive therapy (CBT) and stress reduction techniques such as mindfulness also help control chronic pain by affecting the psychological element of pain perception.
In addition, lifestyle changes are also an important factor. Regular exercise, improved sleep hygiene, and a balanced diet with anti-inflammatory foods can contribute to overall pain relief and improved overall health.
