engleski

A life with chronic pain – can diet help?

Chronic pain is a complex entity which has been recognized as a separate, distinctive health issue with immense individual and societal burden. It is estimated that about one in five people suffer from chronic pain globally, with prevalence increasing with age. The financial burden in direct healthcare costs and indirect costs due to loss of productivity exceed bilions of US$. In Croatia, an average of 54, 128 employees are absent from work on a daily basis due to chronic pain. Severe physical, psychological and social impairments, increased consumption of opiates and analgesics deteriorate individual’s quality of life which is even lower than of patients hospitalised after ischemic stroke. Modern medicine still has no efficient treatment to deal with chronic pain. Chronic pain self-management is considered as best-practice because of an individual aproach to a more rational use of opiates/analgesics and encouraging engagement in regular phyisical activity. Even though the role of nutrition is chronic pain is still argued, nutrition is an important part of the self- management process. Obesity management, avoiding meal-skipping, regular consumtion of foods rich in antiinflammatory bioactives (like green leafy vegetables, fatty fish, olive oil, nuts, fruits) while limiting the consumption of foods rich in simple carbohydrates and saturated fats have shown promising results in chonic pain management.

chronic pain ; quality of life ; nutrition ; self-management

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