An article published by Medical News Today reports that mindfulness may be an effective way for some people to decrease chronic pain, and mindfulness meditation may decrease pain more effectively than some standard treatments.
The findings may provide alternatives for dialysis patients who are looking for ways to manage their pain.
Mindfulness is the state of an individual being present and aware of their actions and surroundings in a way that is not exceedingly reactive or anxious. Some people have a predisposition to being more mindful, and thus report lower levels of pain on average. However, mindfulness can be increased with training.
Chronic pain affects over 25 million people in the US, and one study found that half of hemodialysis patients reported having problems with pain.
