Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. People of different ages express pain differently, such as babies crying, children pulling away or crying, teenagers changing sleep or eating behaviors, and older adults being reluctant to admit pain. Hospitals assess and reassess patients' pain, ask patients to set pain goals, and work as a team to help patients meet those goals. Unrelieved pain can increase health risks and prevent normal activities. Many patients do not complain about pain due to beliefs that it is expected or will bother staff. You can help patients by believing them, not judging, remembering they know their own pain best, and alerting nurses to possible signs of pain.