Pain threshold allows us to endure unpleasant sensations up to a certain point. Interestingly, it is hardly possible to find two people with the same pain threshold, too many factors affect this indicator. Curious to understand where our ability to endure pain comes from.
What is the sensitivity threshold?
The threshold of sensitivity is the subjective reaction of the human body to the impact of traumatic factors that cause pain. Individual perception is as unique as the person himself.
This indicator is formed at the genetic level, but there are ways to change it if you correctly understand what it depends on. For example, someone is unable to work even with a minor headache, while someone, on the contrary, is distracted from pain by plunging into work.
Why it happens this way, and not otherwise, how the threshold of sensitivity affects this, you need to figure it out.
Low pain threshold
The low threshold of sensitivity becomes a real torment for a person. unbearabletests and unbearable pain bring even the simplest procedures, like blood sampling or ear piercing.
Doctors separately draw attention to the fact that such individual characteristics must be warned in advance if any traumatic operation is being prepared. In this case, all necessary actions will be taken to avoid psychological trauma.
A low threshold is accompanied by an inability to tolerate discomfort, which greatly complicates the daily life of an ordinary person.
High pain threshold
A high threshold of sensitivity does not mean that a person is capable of subjecting himself to some kind of traumatic experiments. This statement only indicates that it is easier to perceive and endure stressful situations for the body.
It has been proven that the threshold of pain sensitivity depends on the psychotype of a person. The absence of a certain level of fear of physical effects on the body often makes a person more active, prone to extreme situations.
Pain threshold in men
Studies have shown that sensitivity to pain varies between men and women. Evolutionary development has left its mark on the definition of the pain threshold. A man has long been a hunter and getter, once such a definition was the most accurate.
In connection with this fact, it has been proven that testosterone has an analgesic effect on the male body. A man is easier to endure injuries in a fight, minor cuts,other injuries. It is believed that in critical situations, testosterone levels rise sharply, which makes a man almost forget about the danger and pain.
If the hormonal background of the male body is disturbed, then this can affect his mental state and make him irritable and, so to speak, more feminine.
Pain threshold in women
In the female body, the perception of pain is more complex, which also largely depends on the hormonal background.
Historically, a woman is considered the guardian of the hearth, which means she should not be in constant danger. Because of this, in a calm state, her threshold of sensitivity is an indicator that is below the male level.
Scientists have proven some interesting facts about women's perception of pain.
- The lowest threshold of sensitivity in women occurs during menstruation.
- By the date of ovulation, the threshold reaches its maximum.
- In the morning, a woman is more vulnerable to adverse traumatic influences from the outside.
- The nervous system of a woman is more sensitive and gives in to fear and panic faster, which helps to lower the threshold of sensitivity at the psychological level.
It is important to understand that in critical or vital situations, a hormonal surge occurs, which acts as pain relief. So, for example, during childbirth, the level of estrogen exceeds all permissible norms, which significantly increases the threshold of pain sensitivity. Such a mechanismlaid down by nature and helps a woman to survive.
What determines the sensitivity threshold?
Based on the above, we can conclude that the pain threshold depends on gender and genetic component. However, these are far from the only factors that influence our perception of pain.
You can prepare your own body for stressful situations if you know about them in advance. Scientists also proved that the threshold of sensitivity is not a constant, it can be changed over the course of life.
Factors that affect the pain threshold:
- Diseases of the nervous system.
- The course of acute and chronic inflammatory processes in the body.
- The degree of fatigue, overwork and stress.
- Individual physiological characteristics, genotype.
- The level of saturation of the body with vitamins and minerals.
- Individual psychological attitude for the perception of a stressful situation.
Most of these factors are modifiable. Symptoms of diseases can be eliminated completely or minimized. The psychological state is amenable to change in the course of therapy. Vitamin support of the body will be useful in any case, not only to change the threshold of pain sensitivity.
How to determine your own pain threshold
Knowing your own pain threshold is useful, it will help determine the need for any procedures, as well as understand whether anesthesia is needed. Define Thresholdsensitivity is possible in medical conditions, using a special apparatus - an algesimeter.
Sensors of a special device are attached to the area between the toes and hands of a person. The sensitivity of the analyzers and the sensitivity threshold are directly related. In this area, human skin is tender and more sensitive to external influences.
The principle of operation of the apparatus is as follows:
- Skin areas are treated with heat and light electric current.
- The lower threshold is determined by the pain that begins to cause discomfort.
- The upper threshold is fixed at the maximum up to which a person is able to endure pain and discomfort.
High pain threshold seems to many to be some kind of superpower. However, it is accompanied by reduced sensitivity, which also reduces the level of sensations during intercourse. Massages, essential oils, seafood help to increase the level of perception of sensations.
The low pain threshold can also be changed. It has been proven that regular physical activity and a stable sex life increase stamina and contribute to the stable production of hormones necessary for the body. In addition, you can resort to simple actions and increase the threshold:
- Yoga, meditation.
- A diet rich in vitamin B.
- Eating hot peppers, ginger, mustard.
It is important to tune yourself in the right psychological way, then the body willperceive what is happening in a completely different way, and the pain threshold will increase.
