How to deal with long-term pain, depression and high blood pressureNew research shows how these three conditions relate to each other. Treatments that do not involve medications may help.
Chronic pain makes our lives more difficult every day, both physically and mentally. Chronic pain is pain that lasts more than three months and usually affects nearby muscles, bones, joints, or tissues.
But this common problem, which affects at least a quarter of U.S. adults, could also be bad for your heart. New research indicates a potential link between pain and high blood pressure (hypertension), with depression possibly playing a role.
New evidence indicating
The study, which was published in the January 2026 issue of Hypertension, analyzed health data from more than 200,000 adults (average age 54) who were followed for about 14 years. People with chronic, widespread pain were 75 percent more likely to have high blood pressure than people who said they had no pain. People with short-term pain had a 10% higher risk. The study was just an observation, so it cannot prove that pain was the actual cause of high blood pressure.
Dr. Danielle Sarno, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, says, “Chronic pain and depression often go hand in hand, and both conditions are linked to physiological responses to stress that can raise blood pressure.” The results suggest that adults should be screened periodically for depression and high blood pressure because they have chronic pain.
Long-term pain medications.
Some medications can help with chronic pain, but it's important to know that oral anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can increase blood pressure and have other side effects. Topical anti-inflammatory medications such as diclofenac gel (Voltaren), which are applied directly to the joint, often work well for arthritis and have fewer side effects than pills. Gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) are two other medications that do not affect blood pressure as much and work well for nerve pain.
People suffering from depression and chronic pain may find antidepressant medications such as amitriptyline or duloxetine (Cymbalta) especially helpful.
Ways to treat pain without drugs
Even if medications help with chronic painThey may have side effects that are too difficult to handle or increase the risk of complications, especially if taken for a long time.
Non-drug therapies can help, either alone or in combination with other treatments. “Exercise is one of the treatments that works best most of the time. Dr. Sarno says, “For many people, it is helpful to work with a physical therapist, who can help them safely build their strength, mobility and confidence and develop an exercise program they can do at home.” She also says other helpful lifestyle changes include eating well, getting enough sleep, managing stress, staying away from drugs and alcohol, and developing strong social connections.
Psychological methods
Psychological therapies targeting negative thoughts and perceptions of pain have proven effective. Cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain it is an option. It teaches you how to change the way you think, feel, and react to pain. That helps people feel better and work better, especially those who have depression or other mood disorders.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is another option. It is an eight-week program of meditation and mindfulness techniques that helps reduce stress and emotional reactions to pain. This method allows people to take greater responsibility for their care and has been shown to reduce pain and stress levels.
Dr. Sarno says there is growing evidence to support pain reprocessing therapy, which helps deal with pain by changing the way the brain interprets pain signals and reducing fear-based pain responses. People with nociplastic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgiathat come from the brain's different interpretation of pain signals, may find this therapy very useful.
Yoga, acupuncture, massage, and osteopathic manipulative treatment (a hands-on therapy performed by osteopathic doctors) are other strategies that may help.
A multifaceted approach
Dr. Sarno says making a personalized plan that includes different types of non-drug therapies (and medications if necessary) is a beneficial way to deal with pain. Dr. Jennifer Kurz, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, and Dr. Sarno worked together to create the virtual program. Functional Integrative Restoration Program (FINER). You can find pain management resources and educational sessions online through this program.
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