Acetaminophen is a
common over-the-counter pain killer as well as a component used in some
prescription pain killers. Now there is new research out about this popular
pain killer. Researchers studying acetaminophen found it has a previously
unknown side effect: It blunts positive emotions.
Previous research had
shown that acetaminophen works not only on physical pain, but also on
psychological pain. This study takes those results one step further by showing
that it also reduces how much users actually feel positive emotions, said
Geoffrey Durso, lead author of the study and a doctoral student in social
psychology at Ohio State University.
“Rather than just being
a pain reliever, acetaminophen can be seen as an all-purpose emotion reliever,”
he said.
Research revealed that
people who took acetaminophen didn’t feel the same highs or lows as did the
people who took placebos.
Be sure to give your doctor a clear picture of how you’re
feeling, physically, mentally and emotionally. And discuss ways that you could
better manage your pain, such as with the help of a physical therapist, until
you can have the surgery on your hand.
In the meantime, why not contact your local Home Instead
Senior Care® office to learn how a CAREGiverSM could
assist with personal care as well as with tasks around the house and
transportation. CAREGivers – both men and women – are screened, trained, bonded
and insured to offer the best in companionship services for seniors like you.
Support at home could help you feel less overwhelmed.
To learn more about this
study, visit http://news.osu.edu/news/2015/04/13/emotion-reliever/.