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The immune-suppressive nature of pain
1College of Nursing, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
Objectives:
To review evidence that the immune system plays a role in controlling the spread of cancer and findings that perioperative pain relief improves immune status and health outcomes.
Data Sources:
Research studies and review articles pertaining to immunity, immune function, stress, and immune-suppressive nature of pain.
Conclusions:
Pain not only results in suffering but is a pathogen itself, capable of facilitating the progression of metastatic disease. Adequate pain relief decreases these risks.
Implications For Nursing Practice:
Adequate pain relief is not only a primary concern in caring for individuals in pain but may be a matter of physiologic necessity as further studies reveal the immune-suppressive nature of pain.