Pain comes in all different forms. Some may claim to have a high pain tolerance while others may squeal at the pinch of a vaccination needle. What causes this variation? Why do some people take pain in different ways? Is it genetic, self-controlled, maybe how you were nurtured as a child? Research is starting to point to the genetics of it, especially that of eye color and hair color.
In 2014, during an annual meeting of the American Pain Society, Dr. Inna Belfer of the University of Pittsburgh presented a study possibly linking eye color to these differences in pain tolerance. This study contained 58 healthy, pregnant women at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. 24 of these women were in the dark group while the other 34 were considered the light group. The results of this study suggested that the women with lighter eyes suffered less anxiety after birth and the dark group experienced a more dramatic response to pain.
“While more work is needed to find the reasons for this difference,” the researchers said, “a genetic link seemed likely.”
Eye color isn’t the only genetic quality that seemed to alter pain tolerance–hair color did as well. An increasing number of studies shows that redheads are uniquely composed in terms of pain perception and body reactions. This research has revealed that they tend to be more sensitive to the cold, are less responsive to subcutaneously administered anesthetics, and suffer more toothaches thus fearing the dentist. This decreased res
ponsiveness to the anesthetics is most likely reason that they suffer more anxiety regarding dental care than most other people.
This study consisted of 144 participants, 67 with natural red hair and the remaining 77 with dark hair. They had to complete validated survey instruments that were to measure their dental care-specific anxiety, fear of dental pain and dental care avoidance. The authors concluded that they were more than twice as likely to avoid dental care.
The main problem with both of the studies I included in my blog is that the two variable groups were not equivalent in size. This could lead to inaccuracies in the results, but based on the strength that they have, I’d be confident in saying that the results are correct. Both of these topics are continually researched today and are trying to expand the studies as well.
This is something I have many people talk about with a lighter tone. This subject is one that whenever I heard it being talked about was not very serious. But there may be some serious nature behind this topic. The tests you researched about are very interesting but do have flaws including the size as well as the mental states of the patients. The people in the study can be in any state of mind going into something like that of which is no result of their hair or eyes. It seems the hair and eyes of someone has little to no effect on their personality. An interesting angle is to see if the stereotypes about certain hair colors contribute to people’s personalities?
This topic was very interesting and is not something that is commonly thought about. I never thought that hair and eye color could effect the pain tolerance in individuals. I have brown hair and brown eyes as well, and I have very very low pain tolerance. It was interesting to learn that the sample size was not equal because the information would be more concrete if the sample sizes were the same. The following article is about the “Pain of being a Redhead:” http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56681
The most interesting thing about this article is the fact that it agrees with your suggestion that red heads despise the dentist. It was once again interesting reading about this because I would have never guessed that the color of hair had anything to do with pain. Thanks for sharing!
I have never thought about this topic before. I have brown hair and green eyes and I have a low pain tolerance. Regarding the studies, I am surprised that the researchers did not use an equal number of participants per group. I think it would have made the data more substantial if they used an equal number. Some third variables I thought of in the eye color study would be individual tolerance and how the participant was raised. I found an article that says pain may be due to hormone levels: http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1874
This is a very interesting topic that I have never really thought about. I have brown hair and brown eyes with a very low pain tolerance. I like that you not only brought in ideas about eye color but also included a second study on the effects of pain tolerance with red heads. What would be good to know though, is why exactly it is red heads or individuals with specific eye colors are susceptible to certain pain while other not. From what I looked up, http://sciencenordic.com/redheads-feel-different-kind-pain, it is possible that red heads have difference in certain brain functions allowing for more pain tolerance, but still did not find hard evidence of the reason why this is. Overall really good job and really interesting topic!