TUESDAY, Oct. 12, 2010 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 70 percent of Americans say that they or someone they care for experienced pain in the previous 30 days, a recent survey shows.
Release of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) poll is part of its public education campaign to encourage people with chronic pain to seek help and resources.
More than 76 million Americans live with pain every day, and chronic pain affects more Americans than cancer, diabetes and heart disease combined, according to the group.
"Chronic pain is a very serious and unaddressed public health issue, and many people are reluctant to speak to their physician for fear of feeling hopeless, or simply not knowing how to initiate the conversation," Dr. Robert I. Danoff, of Aria Health System in Philadelphia, said in an AOA news release.
"It is important for physicians and their patients to work together to address the issue of pain."
Among the other survey findings:
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about chronic pain.