Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Approximately 20% of Canadians suffer from chronic pain, defined as pain that lasts longer than six months. For some, chronic pain can be excruciating and incapacitating. The most common sources of pain stem from headaches, joint pain, pain from injury, and backaches. Typically, chronic pain is viewed as a symptom of other chronic conditions. However, emerging pre-clinical evidence suggests that chronic pain (or pain medications) may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke). The objective of my research is to evaluate the role of chronic pain as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in a large, representative sample.