Hypersensitivity to pain: insomnia may be responsible

Lack of sleep could increase sensitivity to pain: explains it a study by Harvard researchersaccording to which a specific neurotransmitter linked to pain tolerance would decrease its effect due to insomnia. The two things could also be linked also due to the symptoms of insomnia itself: lack of sleep, in fact, increases the incidence of headaches, migraines and chronic pain.

Insomnia and pain

—

The neurotransmitter in question is N-arachidonoyl dopamine (NADA), located in an area of ​​the brain called the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN). A malfunction of the TRN can cause high pain sensitivityas he explained to MNT Professor Shiqian Shen, professor at Harvard University and lead author of the study: “La lack of sleep leads to a decrease in the levels of this neurotransmitter in the TRN, which in case of malfunction can increase pain sensitivity.”

Pain management

—

“The TRN – continues Shen – is important for modulating the flow of information between the thalamus and the cerebral cortex, two key regions for pain management”. In particular, lack of sleep could make it harder to bear neck painon the back, those tied to thearthritisto the heachachefibromyalgia, spinal cord injury, cancer and diabetic neuropathy.