<unk> , in the sense of physical<unk> , is a typical sensory experience that may be described as the unpleasant awareness of a noxious stimulus or bodily harm. Individuals experience<unk>  by various daily hurts and aches, and occasionally through more serious injuries or illnesses. For scientific and clinical purposes,<unk>  is defined by the International Association for the Study of<unk>  (IASP) as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage".<unk>  is highly subjective to the individual experiencing it. A definition that is widely used  in nursing was first given as early as 1968 by Margo McCaffery: "'Pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever he says it does".<unk>  of any type is the most frequent reason for physician consultation in the United States, prompting half of all Americans to seek medical care annually. It is a major symptom in many medical conditions, significantly interfering with a person's quality of life and general functioning. Diagnosis is based on characterizing<unk>  in various ways, according to duration, intensity, type (dull, burning or stabbing), source, or location in body. Usually<unk>  stops without treatment or responds to simple measures such as resting or taking an analgesic, and it is then called ‘acute’<unk> . But it may also become intractable and develop into a condition called chronic<unk> , in which<unk>  is no longer considered a symptom but an illness by itself. The study of<unk>  has in recent years attracted many different fields such as pharmacology, neurobiology, nursing sciences, dentistry, physiotherapy, and psychology.<unk>  medicine is a separate subspecialty figuring under some medical specialties like anesthesiology, physiatry, neurology, psychiatry.<unk>  is part of the body's defense system, triggering a reflex reaction to retract from a<unk> ful stimulus, and helps adjust behaviour to increase avoidance of that particular harmful situation in the future. Given its significance, physical<unk>  is also linked to various cultural, religious, philosophical, or social issues.
Pain
Pungency
Joint pain
Symptom
Swelling 
Myalgia
Referred pain
Twitching