Submitted by Admin
The WHO ranks chronic inflammation as one of the biggest threats to the millennial generation. Back in 2014, around 60% of Americans experienced some form of the condition. What’s more, around one in five people die globally due to chronic inflammatory complications such as diabetes, cancer, respiratory disorders, and obesity.
So, what is chronic inflammation? Everyone experiences inflammation at some point in life. If you cut or bruise yourself accidentally, acute inflammation will kick in to enhance the natural healing process. However, the symptoms of inflammation may persist for months, sometimes even after recovering from an injury or illness. In that case, you’re dealing with chronic inflammation.
This article highlights the cause of chronic inflammation, dangers, and how to manage the condition. Read on to learn more.
Causes of Chronic Inflammation
Before looking into the causes, it’s imperative to understand how inflammation occurs. When you harm your body through toxins, injuries, cuts, or infections, it will trigger an immune response to prevent further cell damage. The body will release proteins and antibodies to repair the damaged area within a few days. You’ll probably also experience increased blood circulation around the area.
Inflammation also occurs in response to other illnesses. In essence, it’s the body’s response to a threat. Chronic inflammation occurs when this response goes awry for some reason, and triggers other health complications.
Other causes include prolonged exposure to irritants and autoimmune disorders, where the body mistakenly releases proteins and antibodies to healthy tissues. Experts also believe smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and chronic stress are risk factors for chronic inflammation.
What Are the Dangers of Chronic Inflammation?
The immediate effects of acute inflammation include noticeable signs and symptoms such as redness, pain, and swelling. The symptoms can be subtle when the condition advances to chronic. Instead, you’ll start to experience:
- Persistent infections
- Sudden weight loss or gain
- Anxiety or depression
- Fatigue and body pain
- Gastrointestinal complications
The symptoms will range from mild to severe from time to time and pose a great danger to your overall health. Eventually, they build up persistent inflammatory responses, attacking healthy tissues and organs. This can lead to long-term effects such as internal scarring, DNA damage, organ complications, or even death. Moreover, chronic inflammation can trigger other serious diseases such as cancer, asthma, heart complications, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia, and type 2 diabetes.
Treating Chronic Inflammation
The treatment protocols of acute and chronic inflammation vary. You can take over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen to relieve short-lived pain.
For chronic inflammation, the treatment regimen starts with a diagnosis because the signs and symptoms can be hard to detect. However, there is no standard test for chronic inflammation. Your doctor may conduct several blood tests such as C-Reactive Protein (CPR) to determine inflammation on joints and superficial tissues. A high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein test (hsCRP) will highlight heart inflammation.
If your doctor determines you’re experiencing inflammation, you can explore various treatments such as:
1. Supplements
Dietary supplements such as Relief Factor can help manage chronic inflammation by reducing pain. The use of all-natural ingredients such as ginger, turmeric, and the Japanese Fleeceflower date back to early human civilization. For turmeric, it can also help manage serious diseases triggered by chronic inflammation, such as pulmonary and cardiovascular complications.
Moreover, in addition to lifestyle changes, supplements are the safest way of managing chronic inflammation with few side effects. Long-term use of prescription drugs often results in more complications such as high blood pressure.
2. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Also known as NSAIDs, prescription drugs such as Advil (Ibuprofen), aspirin, and naproxen can help relieve pain and swelling caused by chronic inflammation. However, OTCs are only ideal for short-term use because they can result in kidney complications.
3. Steroids
Corticosteroids can help suppress the immune system if it starts sending responses to healthy cells and tissues. However, this option is not for every patient because the risks can be high. For instance, long-term use of steroids can trigger osteoporosis and high blood pressure. That’s why your doctor will weigh the benefits against the risks before prescribing any steroids.
4. Lifestyle Changes
Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes to enhance other treatment protocols for chronic inflammation. These changes may include embracing exercises and dietary modifications. Increasing physical activity will reduce fat mass and relieve adipose tissue inflammation. Moreover, regular exercises can also increase muscle mass.
Dietary changes include eating foods rich in polyphenols and antioxidants. These foods include leafy greens such as kales and spinach, fatty fish such as salmon and sardines, fruits, nuts, and olive oil. Also, your doctor will advise you to avoid foods that trigger inflammation. They include processed proteins and carbohydrates such as white bread and sausages.
The Bottom Line: Chronic Inflammation is Risky But Manageable
Generally, chronic inflammation increases the risk factors for many other serious health complications. You can stop this from happening if you seek early treatment when you suspect any signs or symptoms. It will help if you speak to your primary doctor before trying any treatment regimen, including supplements and lifestyle changes.