According to a study in Pain, young adults who have sleep problems are more likely to develop chronic pain.
The study focused on overall chronic pain as well as specific types of pain, including musculoskeletal, headache, and abdominal pain. It included approximately 1,750 young Dutch men and women who were followed for three years.
The authors of the study noted that changes in sleep during early adulthood are commonly accompanied by many other psychological and behavioural changes. They’ve found that sleep problems might be an important risk factor for chronic pain in young adults and as such, could be a target for treatment and prevention strategies.