THE ache it's a bad feeling we feel when something is wrong with our body. Through special cells called nociceptors, the ache it is detected and transmitted through nerve fibers to the CNS (central nervous system). For nociceptors to be activated, they need to be stimulated, and these stimuli can be electrical, chemical, thermal, or mechanical. Everywhere in our body there are nociceptors, but in our brain there are none.
Our brain is not able to feel ache. The explanation for this would be that our brain is a fundamental organ for the organism's life, and that the sensation of ache it could lead to death. The membrane that covers the brain (meninges) is full of nociceptors, and it is capable of feeling ache.
We can classify the pains as:
- Acute → manifests for a short period of time, less than 1 month, and is easily identified. It works for the body as a warning sign for inflammation, injuries, illnesses such as menstrual cramps and tooth extraction.
- Chronic → manifests itself for a very long period of time, more than 3 months, and can be debilitated, requiring greater attention from those who are experiencing it. Arthritis, gout, cancer are examples of illnesses that cause this type of pain.
- Skin → localized and of short duration, such as first-degree burns and superficial cuts.
- Somatic → originates from ligaments, bones, tendons. These regions do not have many nociceptors, which generates a ache poorly located and long lasting. For example: broken arm, sprained ankle.
- Visceral → located in organs and internal body cavities, which have few nociceptors. intense feeling of ache, but difficult to locate. The patient often feels pain in regions that are totally different from the actual site of the injury. In a heart attack, the person may feel pain in the shoulders, stomach, arms, for example.
For people who feel ache, the pharmaceutical industry makes available on the market several types of analgesics. These drugs alleviate or block pain before signals reach the CNS.
There are several types of pain: headaches, leg pain, back pain, neck pain, all of which must be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. We should not take over-the-counter medications, as self-medication can worsen the condition of the disease, in addition to triggering other problems.
Paula Louredo
Graduated in Biology