Pain & Inflammation CATEGORY REVIEW

Incidence of Pain According to the Canadian Pain Society, one in five Canadians suffers from chronic pain One in five Canadian adults suffer from chronic pain (Moulin, Clark et al. 2002; Schopflocher, Jovey et al. 2011) children are not spared with 15‐30% of children experiencing recurring or chronic pain  (Stanford, Chambers et al. 2008) and the prevalence increases with age (Hadjistavropoulos, Gibson et al. 2010)   Based on US figures documenting that the cost of chronic pain in adults including health care expenses and lost productivity is $560‐$630 Billion annually it is estimated that the annual cost of chronic pain in Canada is at least $56‐60 Billion dollars.

Acute versus Chronic Pain Acute pain is a common problem, with one in four North Americans suffering an episode of pain lasting longer than 24 hours.(4) Acute (short-term) pain lasts for less than three months and resolves after successful intervention or healing. The most common causes of acute pain are sprains, strains and contusions, and the most common source of pain is the lower back. Chronic (long-term) pain generally lasts longer than three months, affects as many as 70 million people and has been said to be the most costly health problem in North America.

Who Seeks Healthcare

Self Diagnosis and Role of Internet

Regional Differences in Seeking Care

Types of Pain Experienced by Gender

Care Providers for Pain

Sources of Pain

Health Tools Used for Pain

Medical versus Non-Medical Pain Relief

Medications Selected for Pain

Products Used to Reduce Pain

Food as Medicine

Holistic Approach to Health

Retail as a Source of Healthcare Support

Canadians and Prevention Canadians are making healthier choices in order to prevent future health problems. This attitude was seen across various Reports. For example, Mintel’s Exercise Trends – Canada, March 2017 Report revealed that prevention of future health problems is a key motivator for Canadians to exercise regularly. Naturally, older consumers are more likely to cite this as a reason, however, young consumers buy into this attitude as well (56% of under-45’s agree).

Consumers Taking a More Proactive Approach to Health Which is driving increased interest in immune health products… 87% of consumers identify it as the #2 desired functional benefit they want in a food or beverage. This is only 2nd to general health and wellness. 87% of consumers are interested in purchasing food and beverages with immune health benefits 48% of consumers are actively buying foods and beverages with immune health benefits

To Learn More About Food Trends That Impact Your Business Decisions…. Michelle Kienitz Henderson, MA Manager, Industry Liaison and Business Development Food Innovation Research Studio, George Brown College C: 519.212.1197 Michelle.kienitz@georgebrown.ca