Chronic Inflammation and Its Many Symptoms
The immune system is a powerful thing. I love the immune system, but then again I work with it every day. In essence, the immune system is your body’s national army. Its job is to identify harmful intruders and destroy or minimize their existence. It’s absolutely essential for life. Without our immune system our bodies would not be able to handle the onslaught of potential infections and pathogens that we are exposed to on a daily basis.
But while the ability of the immune system to mount an all-out war on potential intruders is important, when it overreacts to a particular situation or it is constantly fighting with no breaks, the repercussions of its efforts produce inflammation that is damaging to the body. This brings us to our main topic: inflammation.
Inflammation essentially is the physical reaction of the immune cells in response to a pathogen (intruder) or physical injury. Acute inflammation usually occurs when there is a sudden injury or infection that produces an immediate immune response. This is usually in an isolated area, and is generally seen by the skin turning red, swelling, getting hot, and hurting. Acute inflammation is something that happens when you sprain your ankle, get a bee sting, or cut yourself. It usually goes away after a couple of days or weeks and the area begins to heal.
Inflammation becomes problematic though when it becomes chronic, meaning that it lasts for longer than a few days or weeks. Chronic inflammation can occur in an isolated area or throughout the whole body (known as systemic inflammation). The longer that inflammation lasts in a particular area, the more damage it can do to the surrounding tissues, preventing that area from healing or repairing damaged tissues. Chronic inflammation can last as long as a couple of months to a couple of years, and can lead to severe discomfort or debilitation.
The tricky thing about chronic inflammation though is that it can sometimes be hard to diagnose or define in most people, and there are limited conventional treatments for chronic inflammation. Because chronic inflammation in and of itself is not a diagnosable disease, many people with chronic inflammation are dismissed by their doctors as being fine, normal, or “just getting older.” Many of our patients come in with a diagnosis from other doctors of “well that’s just how you are.” But just because most chronic inflammation cannot be given a numerical diagnosis, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist.
Chronic inflammation comes in many forms and affects many different locations. It can also be very different amongst different people. It can be in the form of arthritis, abdominal discomfort, neurological symptoms, or skin rashes. In general, chronic inflammation can be found in any part of the body. Here we will outline from head-to-toe some common symptoms of chronic inflammation. Please keep in mind though that many of these symptoms can be signs of other serious conditions and should be properly evaluated by a physician:
HEAD/NECK – Headaches, foggy brain, difficulty concentrating or focusing, nasal congestion, ear congestion, eye pain, bags or discoloration under the eyes, goiter, swollen lymph nodes.
LUNGS – asthma, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing.
GASTROINTESTINAL – abdominal pain, discomfort, gas, bloating, belching, flatulence, reflux, regurgitation, constipation, diarrhea.
SKIN/MUSCLES – joint pain or swelling, skin rashes, itching, redness, dryness or flaking of the skin, hair thinning or falling out.
CONSTITUTIONAL – anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, weight gain or water retention.
Chronic inflammation that has not been tied to other conditions can be treated successfully with natural and alternative therapies. Conventional treatments will generally rely on immune system suppressors such as prednisone or cortisone, but these medications often have severe side effects and are not a permanent fix for the inflammation. Treating chronic inflammation naturally requires a thorough examination of an individual’s life to identify things that are stimulating the immune system, or to find ways to calm it down. Generally diet and lifestyle changes can have a profound effect on reducing or eliminating chronic inflammation. Common triggers for chronic inflammation often include food allergies, environmental toxicities or genetic defects, which can all be treated with natural treatments.
If you feel like chronic inflammation is negatively affecting your life, and you would like to start turning that around, contact our office today to schedule an appointment with one of our knowledgeable physicians.
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