Q
Why do people have different pain tolerances?
A
Expert Answer
Pain tolerance varies due to: genetics (mu-opioid receptor variants), past experiences, psychological factors (attention, anxiety, catastrophizing), cultural conditioning, gender differences, and neurochemistry. Chronic pain can both increase and decrease tolerance through different mechanisms.
Key Insight
Pain tolerance varies due to: genetics (mu-opioid receptor variants), past experiences, psychological factors (attention, anxiety, catastrophizing), cultural conditioning, gender differences, and neurochemistry.
Topics