Daily pain is costing U.S. work productivity and the economy about $60 billion a year.

The study, first released in a British journal, found Americans in households making less than $30,000 a year spend nearly 20 percent of their lives in moderate to severe pain, compared with less than 8 percent of people in households earning above $100,000. High school drop outs were susceptible to twice the amount of pain as college graduates.

Researchers asked nearly 4,000 Americans to diarize daily activities over a 24-hour period and saw the impact pain had on emotional states and daily routines. Many participants said interacting with a spouse or friend lowered pain, but chronic pains tended to decrease socialization. More time was also spent watching television, about 25 percent per day compared with 16 percent for the average person.

“Richer persons tend to be wiser when it comes to seeking out medical attention before its too late,” says Nettie Muhammad, a licensed professional counselor.

In 2004, nearly $2.6 billion was spent on over-the-counter medications and another $14 billion on outpatient analgesics. Research conducted in Michigan showed disparities in access to pharmacies in neighborhoods was a major pain management issue.

“Those (pharmacies) in White zip codes were more than 13 times more likely to have sufficient supplies,” says Dr. Carmen Green, who lead the Michigan study. “I have patients who have to drive 30 miles or more just to get their pain medications.”