What is a characteristic effect of persistent pain on the sympathetic nervous system?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking about the effects of persistent pain on the sympathetic nervous system. It is looking for a specific characteristic effect among the provided options, which relate to how the sympathetic nervous system responds to enduring pain.

More Information

Persistent pain can inhibit the normal reactivity of the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response in stressful situations.

Tips

A common mistake is to assume persistent pain increases sympathetic activity, similar to acute pain or stress.

Sources

• Chronic Pain is Associated With Reduced Sympathetic Nervous ... - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• Chronic Pain is Associated With Reduced Sympathetic Nervous ... - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov