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Chronic inflammation
“Chronic Inflammation – the mother of all disease.”
- Stig Bengmark
Inflammation is part of the body’s natural immune system and there are two types - acute inflammation and chronic inflammation. With acute inflammation, there is often swelling, redness, and heat around affected tissues or joints in response to an injury or an infection. These symptoms indicate that the body is working to heal itself and when “repaired” the body “turns off” the acute inflammation response. Acute inflammation is evidence of a productive healing process. Chronic inflammation also stems from your body’s natural healing response, however in this case, the inflammation does not “turn off” and shifts from healing to harmful. Chronic inflammation is a low-grade inflammation that can continue for months, sometimes years. Over the long term this inflammation can damage tissues and organs, lead to a host of challenging symptoms including fatigue, joint pain, digestive problems, and potentially increase the risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer.
As examples of these negative effects:
Chronic inflammation can impact the build-up of plaque in the arteries or a blood clot - factors that can lead to heart attack or stroke
Long-term inflammation can contribute to some types of cancer such as colorectal cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Chronic inflammation can also lead to body fat and blood sugar issues, which can increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes
In fact, according to the Cleveland Clinic, chronic inflammation is involved in the disease process of many conditions, both physical and mental, including:
Autoimmune diseases – lupus, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis
Cardiovascular diseases -- heart disease and high blood pressure
Certain cancers
Gastrointestinal diseases -- Crohn’s and inflammatory bowel disease
Lung diseases -- asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Mental health conditions -- depression and anxiety
Metabolic diseases –Type 2 diabetes
Neurodegenerative diseases -- Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease
It can be very difficult to identify the specific cause of chronic inflammation. For instance, in an autoimmune disorder, the immune system appears to become overly sensitized to the body's healthy cells and reacts against organs and tissues as if they were foreign and dangerous. Unfortunately. we don’t know why. As the inflammatory response continues over time, it damages the body instead of healing it.
What we do know is that chronic inflammation occurs when the immune system gets off track -- whether that be due to an infection, exposure to environmental pathogens, an unhealthy diet, and/or high stress levels. Although chronic inflammation can develop silently, symptoms can include: joint and muscle pain, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, stomach pain, headaches, brain fog, and depression. Blood tests can help identify inflammation, but the tests do not provide insights into the specific cause. Environmental factors, your daily lifestyle, and exposures to toxins that affect inflammation. include:
Low levels of physical activity
Chronic stress and anxiety
Having a BMI at or above 30/obesity
An imbalance of unhealthy microbes in the gut
Regularly eating foods high in salt, fat, and sugar (Fast foods, fried food, foods with nitrates such as hot dogs or cured meats, and refined carbohydrates and sugars)
Disrupted sleep
Exposure to pollutants and toxins such as hazardous waste and industrial chemicals
Tobacco use
Drinking too much alcohol
As examples, research shows us that smoking activates white blood cells that increase inflammation, boosts pro-inflammatory bacteria in our gut, and damages cells in the lungs that can lead to infections. Lack of sleep can reduce the amount of immune cells we produce and interfere with our natural healing processes that are stimulated by sleep. With obesity, fat is stored in the body and releases chemicals that stimulate inflammation. With stress, cortisol is produced but stays in the body too long, increasing inflammation and weakening our immune system. And with pollutants such as silica dust, irritants are inhaled and remain in the lungs causing chronic inflammation.
If diagnosed with chronic inflammation, your physician may recommend the following medications:
Supplements -- zinc, certain vitamins and/or omega-3
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) -- ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen
Corticosteroids such as an injection in a specific joint or muscle (Prednisone)
Physicians will also remind us that our diet plays an important role in inflammation and encourage diets rich in:
Fruits and vegetables
Whole grains
Fermented foods (such as yogurt with high levels of antioxidants and “live and active cultures”)
Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, tuna, mackerel, and certain nuts (walnuts and pecans)
Spices with anti-inflammatory properties -- turmeric, ginger, and garlic
Physicians also promote reducing sugar and avoiding processed foods. To change eating habits, it is helpful to speak with a dietician or nutritionist. They can recommend approaches such as the Mediterranean Diet -- which can lower levels of inflammation in the body. Beyond one’s diet, lifestyle changes can help reduce chronic inflammation. Recommendations include: moderate exercise of approximately 30minutes, 5 days a week; 7-9 hours of sleep each night; and stress /anxiety management through meditation, tai chi or yoga. All these steps can help you reduce inflammation and get on the path to a healthier life.
If you think you may have chronic inflammation, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician and along with the proper specialists, they can develop a treatment plan customized to your specific needs.
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