ACHE

A dull, constant, sometimes throbbing pain. A backahe often is described as a dull pain, and a toothache or headache as a throbbing pain. A dull aching pain of the bones occurs in influenza, and muscular rheumatism involves aching of the muscles.

An ache, like all other types of pain, is useful and even life-saving. It is a warning signal, indicating that something is wrong. Without the ache of a strained back, a decayed tooth, a bruised muscle, or ab inflamed joint, a personwould not know that something was wrong until much more damage had been done.

How quickly a person feels pain and how much he or she can tolerate is both physiological and psychological. The pain hreshold is a measure of the stimulus needed in order to register pain. The ability to sustain pain without complaining, crying, or inability to work varies greatly from person to person. An individul’s reaction to aching pain depends on many factors, including his previous experience with aches, his chilhood training with regard to appropriate responses to aches, his general state of health, and the presence or absence of fatigue. If someone is busy with work or play, an ache may hardly be noticed.

Aching-possibly caused by the build up of toxic substances often follows strenuous exercise. The ahiness gradually disappears with rest. The same aching feeling accompanies many illnesses, including a severe cold and malfunctioning kidneys. In such illnesses, the accumulation of wastes in the system produce the symptom of generalized aching until the illness disappears or is successfully treated.