When you hear the word “inflammation” what comes to mind? Pain, redness, or swelling? Perhaps heat?
Chances are you’ve experienced this type acute inflammation. It’s what occurs when we scrape our knee, stub a toe, or get a bad paper cut. It’s the body’s defense mechanism to fight off invading bacteria or protect the injured area from further damage. In this case, inflammation is a good thing. It will only last a few days or weeks as it helps the body to heal, and then dissipates.
However, acute inflammation has an evil brother: chronic inflammation. With chronic inflammation, the body is attacking itself – and it can be harder to detect. Many people are unaware of the signs of chronic inflammation, or attribute their symptoms to aging, being busy, or experiencing a bad allergy season.
So, what are some of the signs and symptoms of chronic inflammation? We’re glad you asked.
Signs & Symptoms of Chronic Inflammation
- Fatigue
- Tinnitus
- Anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders
- Chronic headaches, migraines, or brain fog
- Increased allergy symptoms
- Joint pain
- Trouble sleeping
- Eye floaters
- Skin issues (eczema, psoriasis, acne, etc.)
- Redness & swelling, especially of joints
- Elevated C-Reactive Protein and/or high blood glucose
- Constipation, diarrhea, or other digestive issues
- Weight gain
- Frequent illness
- Tonsilloliths (tonsil stones)
- Skin tags (which have also been linked to insulin resistance and diabetes)
Regardless of the signs or symptoms, we know that this inflammation is stemming from something that is wrong in the body: a root cause. Chronic infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites increase inflammation, as does exposure to chemicals, toxins, and radiation. The standard American diet/lifestyle can also contribute, often (but not always) due to causing a leaky gut.
At this point, you might be thinking, “There are so many symptoms! And so many contributing factors! How do I know where to begin with healing?”
Taking Action
There are several steps you can take on your own, at home.
- Decrease your inflammatory food intake. Research shows processed, sugary, and fried foods contribute to inflammation.
- Increase your movement. Studies show that exercise can inhibit inflammation (and improve cognition)
- Improve your bedtime routine and sleep quality. Sleep loss has been linked to both increased inflammation and obesity.
- Eat organic, whenever possible. A recent study found that increased organic food consumption was related to reduced risk of cancer. (More information on the relationship of inflammation and cancer can be found here.)
Need Support?
If you are having a hard time making changes to your diet, exercise, sleep, or stress load, set up an appointment with our health coach, Elizabeth. She’s trained in positive psychology and functional medicine health coaching – and is a national board certified health and wellness coach, so you know you’re in good hands.
Beyond the Basics
If you already believe you’re diet is clean, your movement is good, and your sleep is spot-on, it can be frustrating to try to figure out what’s causing your symptoms. In this case, we recommend scheduling NMT care with Dr. Rob Lindsey. His neurometabolic approach seeks to determine the root cause of health issues and address it at that level. He has helped patients dealing with all sorts of health issues that stemmed from toxins, parasites, underlying infections, and more.
To schedule an appointment at our office, call 952-949-0676.
