Exercise and opioids: What to know before working out

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1/ Before looking for pain relievers, try exercise

Office workers are the subjects that are required to sit for hours at a computer, so they often have problems such as back and hip fatigue, shoulder pain, neck pain... If you need to go somewhere far or drive a car, then then most would think of using exercise and opioids.
Exercise is a pretty effective way to control pain and mood. However, that pain is only temporarily reduced, not completely eliminated. However, if you exercise more often, the physical improvement helps the muscles to develop and the skeleton becomes stronger. Physical activity is a form of flexibility and long-term cardiovascular health.
However, not all are able to stick to the same exercise for a long time. So pain can get worse when you stop exercising. That's why doctors always recommend regular exercise to maintain healthy living habits that are beneficial to health.

Common problems with using opioids

Some of us who can't stick to exercise or are too busy often turn to pain relievers to solve the problem. When used immediately, the drug will help you control pain, but in the long run, the effects will gradually decrease and sometimes even change the motor function of the organs and affect some of your activities such as:
Causing arrhythmias When using pain relievers, some people feel that the activity of the heart is somewhat slowed down. Especially with opioid pain relievers, these feelings become even more pronounced. We know that through the difficulty of working and studying. At mild levels, the body will feel uncomfortable, but more intense can be dangerous for the person using the opioid.

Difficulty breathing Opioids are effective for coughs but this is a drug that needs to be consulted before using. Sometimes the dangers come from you being allergic to the ingredients of the drug. In case you feel chest tightness, difficulty breathing, runny nose, ... please pay attention and check early to prevent any danger.
Decreased endurance when exercising Pain relievers slow down our heart rate, poor circulation will affect the normal respiratory rate. You will breathe less and the amount of oxygen your body needs will be significantly reduced. When the muscles and blood are not supplied with enough oxygen, you will feel fatigued and difficult to concentrate on work.
Causes osteoporosis or fractures Opioid pain relievers affect the body's bone-building process. So abuse or use without consulting a doctor will make you have difficulty with bones. Osteoporosis will make the bone structure brittle and weak, vulnerable to even a slight impact. When you have osteoporosis, it takes a long time to recover and heal from the fracture.
Decreased body balance According to some analyzes among users of opioid pain relievers are more dependent on them than users of other pain relievers. Because this medicine slows down your heart rate, makes it difficult to breathe, and makes you develop osteoporosis, it can seriously impair your health when taken uncontrolled. Ultimately, it makes it difficult for you to keep your balance and easy to fall during practice.
In addition, pain relievers also cause some side effects that cause the body to fall and fatigue such as:
Constipation Opioids reduce muscle contractions and intestinal walls to allow food to move through the colon. Even if you only use it for a short time, you can still face this difficulty
Nausea Not all but some say they feel nauseated when using opioids. Some have tried taking it with other foods, but the problem hasn't subsided. After that, they feel nauseous even when practicing and working, making everything seem to be in the way and reduce performance.
Abnormal emotional changes
Because it is a pain reliever that affects nerves, it will dominate the user's emotions. If you use it regularly, the basic emotions will change or get worse.

3/ Solutions for exercisers and opioids

In some cases where you are required to be prescribed medication by your doctor, try one of the following ways to reduce injury from exercise addiction:
Opt for less strenuous activities such as walking on flat roads instead of climbing slopes, jogging in well-lit places instead of dark... Choose exercises that are suitable for health: low-intensity exercise or water exercises for support.. Use exercise machine: cycle in the gym to reduce the risk of injury if you have impaired balance Reduce exercise time suitable for health, exercise about 30% less than usual so that the body does not overpowered.

4/ How to create endorphins for natural pain relief without using opioids

To limit the use of pain relievers, you can refer to some ways to create endorphins below:
Exercise in accordance with the body's ability Perform acupuncture to relax and circulate blood Practice meditation For a long time The scent of essential oils helps to relax the body and control pain Regular married life Enjoy a little wine or dark chocolate Find joy through conversation with friends Watch a movie that what you love Do things that make you feel better Enjoy music Therapeutic massage Sun exposure when UV rays are lowest Sauna Endorphin is a hormone of happiness that helps us relieve pain and feel good roof. So when the body is optimistic, the body will signal to release them more. You can also consider this as a natural pain relief solution that poses little danger to the body.
Above are the things you need to know between exercise and opioids. Try to use natural ways of producing endorphins instead of overusing painkillers to avoid the risk of harming your own health. For any difficulties or questions, you can contact a specialist for advice or schedule an appointment.
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References: mayoclinic.org, healthline.com