New research suggests physical pain may have a distinct brain “signature” that distinguishes it from emotional hurt.
Pain
How Your Brain Tells You When It’s Time for a Break
It’s all about the reward
FDA Action on Vicodin May Mean More Pain, Not Less Addiction or Overdose
Stricter rules for prescribing opioids may not be the only answer to curbing addiction to painkillers
Can Doctors Feel Their Patients’ Pain?
A study shows physicians may care more than you think about their patients’ pain.
Could an Addiction-Proof Painkiller Finally Be on the Horizon?
New research on a drug that boosts the pain-relieving effect of opioids, while cutting their addictiveness, hints tantalizingly at non-addictive treatment options for pain patients
The Conundrum of Risky Painkillers for Veterans with PTSD
War veterans with severe pain may need drugs like morphine and hydrocodone to manage it, but the medications are associated with higher rates of overdose and self-harm in those with post-traumatic stress.
In the Brain, Broken Hearts Hurt Like Broken Bones
Sticks and stones may break your bones, but names can hurt just as much.
Perspective: Why Did Conrad Murray Get Just Four Years In Jackson’s Death?
Dr. Conrad Murray, convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson, was sentenced on Tuesday to four years in prison, the maximum sentence for the crime.
Why Swearing Sparingly Can Help Kill Pain
Letting loose with a satisfying string of expletives can significantly reduce physical pain, research has shown. But according to a new study, it doesn’t work as well if you make a habit of cursing frequently.
Family MattersParenting
Postpartum Depression and Difficulty Breast-Feeding May Go Hand in Hand
Breast-feeding may be natural but that doesn’t mean it comes easily to every new mom. A new study in the August edition of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology finds that women who struggle to breast-feed in the first two weeks …
U.S. Rules That Marijuana Has No Medical Use. What Does Science Say?
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) ruled on Friday that marijuana has “no accepted medical use” and should therefore remain illegal under federal law — regardless of conflicting state legislation allowing medical …
Aching Back? Try Massage for Chronic Pain
It’s not news that a back massage feels good. But now there’s clinical evidence to show just how good.
Report: Chronic, Undertreated Pain Affects 116 Million Americans
Serious, chronic pain affects at least 116 million Americans each year, many of whom are inadequately treated by the health-care system, according to a new report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The report offers a blueprint …
