Do redheaded people feel pain more?

1. 60

   katieababy74posted 12 years ago

   Do redheaded people feel pain more?
   
   I was told by a doctor that people with red hair (Like my daughter's) often have a lower pain threshold and also have more troubles with anesthesia.

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2. 76

   jenniferrpoveyposted 12 years ago

   That's correct. There have been a number of studies that indicate that redheads feel pain more and require more anesthesia. The same genes that govern pigmentation in the skin also govern some aspects of brain development. In this case, it appears that redheads have a different level of endorphin production from the rest of us.
   
   However, many redheads end up with a higher *tolerance* for pain...they learn to deal with it better.

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3. 60

   katieababy74posted 12 years ago

   That is so interesting thank you Jenniferrpovey

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4. 62

   Deepak Chaturvediposted 12 years ago

   Not actually redheaded but red haired people feel 10% more pain compare to black and grey.

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5. 89

   Patty Inglish, MSposted 12 years ago

   My hair is red-brown and during preventive medicine research, I had a root canal without anesthetic. Perhaps the combination color helps.
   
   Despite the recent glut of opposite info in the news, I have read and used research in practice that shows that people with red hair feel less pain than people with other hair colors feel, and my doctors confirm this. But I feel that red haired people's sunburn must hurt much more than dark-haired sunburn, because the darker pigment in the skin is protective. In one study, only women with red hair received relief, or more relief,  from a specific medication, but men with red hair generally did not. http://www.pnas.org/content/100/8/4867.short
   
   Because other comments show the opposite, then other genetic or environmental factors may be entering into the question, including gender, age, nationality, who is paying for the study (if govt. study, who provides the grant), and others.

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6. 0

   Phelckyposted 12 years ago

   I don't think it's true! I am a redhead and I can endure more pain than most people I know

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