Heart Health and Pain: What you didn’t know

Innovative Pain Medicine | February 28, 2026 | www.ipainmed.com

Did You Know? Chronic pain may be as big a risk factor for your Heart as Diabetes.

While we often focus on diet and exercise, clinical data shows that chronic widespread pain can increase the risk of heart disease by nearly 8%—a statistical impact almost identical to that of Type 2 diabetes.

This happens because persistent pain keeps your body’s "fight-or-flight" system permanently switched on, which can wear down the heart and blood vessels over time.

Recent medical research has increasingly highlighted a strong, measurable link between chronic pain and cardiovascular health. According to data from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the UK Biobank updated through 2025–2026, the relationship is not just a side effect of discomfort but a significant independent risk factor.

Key Statistics on Pain and Heart Health

The severity and location of pain play a major role in determining cardiovascular risk, in other words - high blood pressure / heart health.

Chronic widespread pain is associated with 75% of raising blood pressure, chronic headaches account for 22%, while localized pain, such as back or neck is 20%, and of course, short term pain is at 10%.

Major Findings

Heart Attack & Stroke: Individuals with chronic pain are roughly 20% more likely to experience a heart attack and 30% more likely to have a stroke than those without it.
The "Diabetes" Comparison: Recent studies suggest that the population-attributable risk of chronic pain for cardiovascular disease is approximately 8.6%, which is remarkably similar to the risk attributed to diabetes (7.3%).
Widespread Pain: Research from the 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update notes that the "burden" of pain (the number of painful sites on the body) has a dose-response relationship with the development of arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation.

Why Does Pain Affect the Heart?

The connection is driven by several physiological and lifestyle factors:

Sympathetic Overdrive: Chronic pain keeps the body in a constant "fight-or-flight" state, which chronically elevates heart rate and blood pressure.
Inflammation: Many pain conditions (like arthritis) are systemic inflammatory disorders. This inflammation can damage blood vessels and accelerate the buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis).
Secondary Factors: Chronic pain often leads to poor sleep, depression, and reduced physical activity—all of which are primary contributors to heart disease.
Medication Side Effects: Long-term use of certain NSAIDs, if not monitored, like other medications, can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart failure in some patients.

Note: If you are experiencing unexplained chest pain, shortness of breath, or sudden weakness, please seek immediate medical attention, as these can be signs of an acute cardiac event rather than chronic pain.

Think of your body like a house with a sophisticated security system. When you experience chronic pain, it's like a burglar alarm that won't turn off.

Here is the "layman's version" of why that alarm system eventually wears out the house's electrical and plumbing (your heart and arteries):

1. The "Fight-or-Flight" Overload

When you're in pain, your brain thinks you’re under attack. It pumps out stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. In a short burst (like running from a dog), this is fine. But when it happens for months, your heart is basically redlining like a car engine that never shifts out of first gear. This keeps your blood pressure and heart rate higher than they should be.

2. Constant "Soreness" in the Blood

Pain often comes from inflammation (the same stuff that makes a cut red and puffy). If you have chronic pain, that inflammation isn't just in one spot—it travels through your bloodstream. Over time, this blood can irritate the inside of your arteries, making it easier for blockages to form.

3. The "Couch & Coffee" Cycle

It’s hard to live a "heart-healthy" life when you’re hurting. Chronic pain often leads to a chain reaction:

Low Activity: It hurts to move, so you move less (weakening the heart muscle).
Poor Sleep: Pain keeps you awake, and lack of sleep is a major trigger for heart rhythm issues.
Stress Eating: Many people reach for "comfort foods" (high in salt and sugar) to cope with the mental toll of pain.

4. The Medication Tax

To manage the pain, many people take over-the-counter NSAIDs (like Ibuprofen), in addition to other forms of treatment, often without guidance or adhering to label directions. While helpful for the pain, these can act like a "tax" on your heart if not managed carefully, like other prescriptions. It should be discussed with your doctor, like other medications.

Chronic pain acts as a constant "stress test" that your heart never gets to finish.

How we at Innovative Pain Medicine can help:

Do a complete evaluation - your medical history tells a story.
Review your current medication list, including over the counter medications, and vitamins.
Discuss with your exercise regimen (or lack of) to see what you can safely add to improve quality of life.
Set up regular check-ins to see what may need to be adjusted.

We want to be a partner in your care. Treatment shouldn’t happen TO you, but with you.

Contact us at: 917.686.0987 to schedule your evaluation today.