Too much of a good thing is harmful in many aspects of life, but especially so in the case of inflammation, which is a way to help the body fight infection. The immune system’s job is to defend our bodies against infections, diseases, and anything foreign. The immune system is a system consisting of a group of cells, tissues and organs that work together.
Inflammation is the immune system’s response to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, toxic compounds, or radiation.
The signs of inflammation look like a car’s engine light on the dashboard. It tells you that something went wrong. But your reaction shouldn’t be to get rid of the light on the panel, because that’s not the problem. Instead, you should look for the reason that led to the light being on.
There are two types of inflammation: acute inflammation and chronic inflammation. Acute inflammation is the most common among people. It is redness, warmth, swelling, and pain around tissues and joints that occurs in response to injury, and occurs when you cut yourself. When the body is exposed to injury, the immune system secretes white blood cells to surround and protect the area.
In contrast, when inflammation rises to very high levels and persists for a long time, and the immune system continues to pump out white blood cells and send out chemical messengers that prolong the process, this is known as chronic inflammation.
It is estimated that one in five people in the UK and a similar percentage around the world suffer from chronic inflammation, but what are the ways to reduce it?
Signs of acute inflammation
There are several symptoms that tell you that you are suffering from infections, which are:
- Joint pain.
- Swelling and redness of the affected area.
- Fever and feeling of cold chills.
- Fatigue and loss of energy.
- Headache.
- Anorexia.
Chronic inflammation
Your immune system’s response to chronic inflammation continues, leaving your body in a constant state of alert. Over time, tissue destruction and damage occurs, and chronic inflammation is associated with many different medical conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disorders.
Lucia Stansby, a nutritionist, and Dr. Rachel Ping Madek, a consultant rheumatologist at Leicester Hospital in the UK, shared with The Telegraph newspaper ways to reduce chronic inflammation.
“Acute inflammation is a healing process that enables the body to repair its tissues and eliminate pathogens,” states Lucia Stansby.
Whether you have a small cut or a cold, your cells act as if they are under attack, and your immune system kicks into action. Fever, local pain, redness and swelling are signs of white blood cell defense and are a vital component of the body’s healing process.
Once this process is complete, the body should return to its normal state, but in people with chronic inflammation, their bodies remain on high alert and immune cells are active. Over time, persistent inflammation in the absence of an injury or foreign body to fight can damage healthy tissues and parts of the body, which in turn leads to a host of complications and disease conditions.
“Chronic inflammation tends to be low-level but constant and can sometimes last for years,” Stansby explains. “It’s basically the body trying to fix or fight something, but not being able to.”
Fortunately, diet and lifestyle changes can help reduce this potential damage.
What are the signs that you have chronic inflammation?
Feeling tired, headaches, and brain fog are not uncommon when fighting an injury or illness, but sometimes, especially when these symptoms occur frequently, they are caused by inflammation, and are an indication that your body is struggling to overcome an hidden problem.
Signs of chronic inflammation include:
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Constant fatigue
- Unexpected weight gain or loss
- Skin problems
- Joint or muscle pain
- Frequent digestive problems such as diarrhea, constipation and acid reflux
Being susceptible to diseases in general is another possible indicator of inflammation. “If you seem to be getting all kinds of illnesses, it may be because your body is already on high alert and your immune system isn’t prepared to fight off any new infections that might arrive,” Stansby says. If you constantly get colds, or never seem to recover from them, “This may be a sign that you have chronic inflammation.”
What are the main causes of chronic inflammation?
The main causes of inflammation are infections, inflammatory diseases (usually autoimmune disease), and short-term trauma such as wounds and injuries.
As Dr. Ping Madek explains: “Sometimes the infection cannot be completely eliminated, but the immune system works to contain the infection. This applies to infections such as tuberculosis or herpes viruses, where the infection is latent in our bodies, but it can become active and cause until the symptoms return again.
Having a stomach infection (germ or bacteria) is an example of the way chronic inflammation takes hold in the body. “While traveling abroad, you may develop a stomach infection, which leads to changes in the gut microbiome (the beneficial bacteria and fungi that live in the intestines) and as a result, inflammation gradually builds up in the body,” says Stansby. “If left untreated, this infection will get worse and may lead to complications.” “More serious intestinal risk.”
She also added, “Stress is the main driver of chronic inflammation, because the body creates an overactive state in many pathways, which puts it in a state of response called fight or flight, which ultimately leads to inflammation.”
Stansby also believes that inflammation can be caused by environmental factors and exposure to toxins. “This inflammation can arise from smoking,” she says. “And if you live in a crowded city, you are also exposed to toxins from polluted air. Even in our homes, prolonged exposure to mold or certain products used in the home, including candles and appliances, can cause Air purification can lead to chronic inflammation or inflammatory reactions.
Can changing your diet help reduce inflammation?
There is growing evidence that a diet high in processed and fatty foods, refined carbohydrates, and red meat is associated with increased inflammation in the body and a higher risk of chronic disease.
“Diet change can help people with weak chronic inflammation,” says Dr. Ping Madek. “However, diet alone is unlikely to be able to suppress a strong inflammatory response.”
Overall, a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds may help reduce inflammation.
It is also recommended to maintain oral health and hygiene. Dr. Ping Madic stated: “It is believed that the gingival bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is found in some types of gum disease, works to enhance antibodies that can lead to rheumatoid arthritis, so brushing the teeth well with “Flossing is important because it can protect against some autoimmune diseases.”