Deadly Pain: Can You Really Die From Too Much Pain?

Pain. We all feel it. Most of us avoid it. Some have died from it… or have they?

The human anatomy is a miracle all its own. It adapts to suit the activities that we consistently engage in. There’s a good reason why athletes tend to have bodies that are much more physically impressive than that of the average Joe. Taekwondo artists have bulky legs but slender upper bodies, swimmers have longer limbs, and sumo wrestlers are utterly huge.

The body can not only heal itself, it can also make itself stronger, as is the case with bodybuilding where gym goers intentionally create microtears in their muscles, which the body heals and reinforces with newer, denser muscle tissue.

Then there’s the aspect of pain. As uncomfortable as it is, it can actually be considered the quickest warning system in the world. It alerts us when there’s something amiss with our body and it also allows us to respond immediately, as is the case when we touch a hot surface and we automatically withdraw our hand as soon as we feel the pain.

However, can pain be so great as to overwhelm the body to a point that it causes death? Can we die from pain?

Well, the short answer is no. We cannot die from pain directly because of the fact that pain is nothing more than a signal that is triggered when the body sustains damage. However, that doesn’t mean that pain cannot become a significant contributory factor in a person’s death.

Circulatory Shock

Also more commonly known as just shock, this is a medical condition where the flow of blood to the tissues of the body is hindered significantly due to problems in the circulatory system.

Shock happens when people experience excruciating pain. They may even become unconscious because of the pain. The main reason why medics carry morphine is to prevent the wounded from going into shock. Morphine is a fast-acting painkiller; this and similar drugs essentially alter the pain signals that are being sent to the brain, which means that the casualty does not even perceive the pain.

Surgeries might initially be seen as a cause for shock, but you have to consider factors like the use of anesthetics and painkillers, both of which keep the patient from feeling pain during surgery. Of course, there are times when medical procedures are not properly performed, in which case, you may want to see a medical malpractice lawyer like the ones at Seattlemalpracticelawyers.com.

Adrenaline also helps prevent shock

Adrenaline is a hormone that is released during fight or flight scenarios. Adrenaline causes the heart to beat faster and stronger, allowing it to supply enough blood to the muscles, which then allows for greater exertion when needed.

It also causes the airways to relax, which causes your breathing to be more shallow. And finally, it causes the pupils to widen in order to let more light in so that you’re more perceptive of your environment.

But most important of all, adrenaline also makes you less perceptive of pain, thereby preventing the onset of shock to a degree. So, once again, pain alone cannot kill you. You’re more likely to die from the cause of the pain rather than the pain itself.