Re: Pain Differences between Males and Females

January 1, 2003

Several past reports have indicated, antithetically, that instead it

is the females who have a much higher threshold of pain. Perhaps one

gender is more willing to report pain, or experiences it

differently.

[i also recall reading several research projects which indicated that

women tolerate pain more readily than men. It looks as if we need to see

many more studies on this issue, especially ones which cover different

cultural groups and ages, as well as different types of pain. Mel Siff]

By measuring these thresholds in mice via inhibition of

neurotransmitter release through GIRK proteins, doesn't it seem we

also discount some of the cognitive and psychosomatic variables

contributing to pain tolerance in humans?

The absolute sensation of pain is that which is perceived. Much in

the manner mental techniques may allow one to ignore pain to the

point where the individual is no longer ignoring but is actually not

feeling pain, I think it is possible that we can inhibit the signal-

transduction cascades involved in pain but may still not be entirely

devoid of it. Interesting stuff.

Eugene Sanik

Brooklyn, NY

---------

Mel Siff wrote:

> The following report summarised the difference between males and females in

> perceiving pain:

>

> ------------

>

8ACB-1DFF-8B3B809EC588EEDF>

>

> December 18, 2002

>

> Proteins May Be Key to Pain Differences between Men and Women

>

> When it comes to pain, guys may be tougher than gals because they have more

> of a particular type of protein, new research suggests. Two studies published

> online this week by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

> implicate proteins known as GIRKs in sex-based differences in pain

> sensitivity in mice. The findings could help researchers develop new

> gender-specific treatments for discomfort......

Recommended Posts