MORE than a third of the people living in the Midlands are in pain, according to a survey conducted for Tesco Pharmacies.

But many sufferers fail to read the instructions on the pack of painkillers they take and others stick to the same one without considering if it is the best for their particular pain.

For example, while paracetamol is good for treating toothaches, headaches and general pain, ibuprofen helps to reduce swelling and inflammation and is good for backache, muscular aches and period pain.

Included in the survey is the fact that nearly 30% of those between the age of 16 and 24 never read the packet instructions, 70% of those between 55 and 64 always read them and that 60% of people in that age group suffer continual pain.