[Kim Jaeho's Life Story]<273> The Temptation and Pitfalls of Pain Relievers

As people go through life, they experience various types of pain, and since no one can avoid pain, it must be considered a part of life. The types and degrees of pain are highly diverse, but among them, severe pain is difficult for anyone to endure and is something people wish to avoid. Pain relievers are medications developed to alleviate such pain, and people are often tempted to seek the help of pain relievers when they feel pain.

Pain can sometimes be extremely distressing and cause severe discomfort. However, on the other hand, pain serves as a warning signal to the brain, helping to prevent bodily harm. In this way, pain acts as an automatic alarm system that is essential for survival, making it both a beneficial and important presence. When the cause of pain disappears, the pain also goes away; but if the cause persists, the pain does not stop, and this persistent pain can significantly reduce quality of life.

When pain from various diseases, including chronic conditions, injuries, or surgeries makes life difficult, pain relievers are valuable medications that help alleviate this suffering. For this reason, many people use pain relievers without much hesitation. However, because of these positive effects, people may be tempted by pain relievers and forget about the automatic alarm function of pain, focusing only on avoiding pain. This can lead to falling into the trap of pain relievers.

There are many types of pain relievers, and if we use them appropriately for their intended purposes, they can be helpful when severe pain causes suffering. However, if pain relievers are misused or relied upon exclusively, neglecting efforts to eliminate the underlying cause of pain, one may end up living with pain for a long time or suffering from side effects. Therefore, it is important to understand the role of pain relievers and use them appropriately.

When pain arises for any reason, the best way to overcome it is to identify and eliminate the cause. However, eliminating the cause of pain is never an easy task. There are many cases where even thorough examinations fail to reveal the cause of pain, and even when the cause is known, resolving it may be practically impossible or take a long time.

As a secondary solution to these problems, treatment may focus only on alleviating pain, or pain relief treatment may be provided alongside efforts to eliminate the cause. Pain relievers were developed for precisely this purpose.

Pain relievers are medications that temporarily numb nerve function when a person or animal experiences pain due to disease, injury, or surgery. They block electrical signals from the affected area so that the brain does not perceive the pain. These substances circulate in the body via the bloodstream and are filtered out by the kidneys, so as time passes, the concentration of pain relievers in the blood decreases.

Therefore, as time goes by, the effect of the pain reliever diminishes, and to maintain pain relief, the medication must be administered periodically.

Pain relievers are broadly classified into narcotic and non-narcotic pain relievers. Non-narcotic pain relievers can be further divided into antipyretic analgesics, which relieve pain and reduce fever, and anti-inflammatory analgesics, which, in addition to these effects, also reduce inflammation.

Antipyretic analgesics are pain relievers containing acetaminophen as the active ingredient. They relieve pain by numbing the pain receptors in the brain and spinal cord. Examples include Tylenol, Penzal, and Geborin.

Anti-inflammatory analgesics are pain relievers with ingredients other than acetaminophen, including ibuprofen and others. They are commonly referred to as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), with examples such as Aspirin, Advil, and Ezene6.

According to policy briefings from the Korean government, if the goal is to reduce fever, an antipyretic analgesic with acetaminophen as the main ingredient is recommended. If there are symptoms of inflammation, such as a sore throat, NSAIDs are recommended.

Narcotic pain relievers are medications that can be used to treat severe acute pain, such as after surgery or injury, or chronic pain in cancer patients. These include oxycodone, morphine, and codeine, and are only prescribed by a doctor when other treatments cannot manage or relieve the pain.

When suffering from severe pain, it is wise to use pain relievers appropriately to reduce the pain. However, to minimize suffering and side effects from such pain, the following points must be remembered and observed.

First, pain relievers work by preventing the sensation of pain and thereby reducing suffering, but it is essential to remember that they do not fundamentally eliminate the cause of pain. Since pain will return once the effect of the medication wears off after a few hours, if the pain does not disappear on its own over time, separate efforts must be made to eliminate its cause.

If one habitually takes pain relievers over a long period and does not feel pain while the medication is effective, it is a mistake to think the pain has healed. Without efforts to eliminate the cause of pain, the pain is unlikely to improve.

Second, all pain relievers have various side effects depending on their type. While using pain relievers can be helpful when pain is severe, abuse is not advisable. Acetaminophen, the main ingredient in antipyretic analgesics, is primarily metabolized in the liver. Taking these medications can quickly cause fatigue, and those with liver disease may experience worsening of their condition.

Additionally, if more than 3,000 mg of acetaminophen is consumed in a day, it can damage the liver. Taking it with alcohol can also cause liver problems, so caution is required.

NSAIDs, which are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, reduce a substance called prostaglandin in the stomach that protects the stomach lining. This can cause gastrointestinal issues, so it is best to take them with food.

Furthermore, among NSAIDs, aspirin can cause Reye's syndrome, a life-threatening disease, in children under 18. Therefore, it is better to use other NSAIDs instead of aspirin for this age group.

Long-term use of NSAIDs, except for aspirin, can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, so caution is necessary. People with existing heart problems or high blood pressure are particularly at risk. Narcotic pain relievers are addictive and can cause serious side effects such as life-threatening respiratory problems, so it is best to use them for as short a period as possible.

Third, it is important to use pain relievers appropriately for their intended purpose and avoid overdosing. If you are taking medication for any disease, that medication may already contain a pain reliever, and interactions between medications can increase the risk of side effects. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a medical specialist or pharmacist when receiving a prescription.

What should you do if you want to eliminate the cause of pain but cannot determine the exact cause, or if, as in the case of cancer, it is difficult to cure the cause even if it is known?

Most diseases or causes of pain are due to damage to nucleotides, which make up genes within our body cells. It is important to note that the best "doctor" working in the form of genes within the body restores these damaged nucleotides to their original state.

For the best "doctor" in your body, working in the form of genes within every cell, to effectively restore damaged nucleotides, you need to create an environment where this "doctor" can work energetically. This is precisely what "New Start" (refer to Life Story Part 6) is about. By living according to the New Start principles and activating the necessary genes, the causes of pain can be reduced, allowing for a pain-free life.

The first of the eight principles of New Start is a life-giving diet, which means eating a variety of plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains, in sufficient and whole amounts, without favoring specific foods. Along with this, it is important to reduce the intake of sugar, which can cause many problems when consumed in excess, as well as processed or refined unhealthy carbohydrates, saturated and trans fats, salt, and alcohol. Practicing the remaining New Start principles-exercise, water, sunlight, temperance, air, rest, trust, and love-is also important.

Independent researcher