The purpose of inflammation
If you’re hearing the word “inflammation” a lot lately, you might think it’s just another health-related buzzword. While inflammation is associated with the latest diets and supplements, it’s also the subject of serious medical research.
When it functions properly, inflammation is a beneficial process. It is your body’s way of protecting and then healing itself after an injury.
When you stub a toe or cut a finger, and the tissue surrounding the injury becomes red and swollen, that is acute inflammation at work. Throughout the inflammatory response, your body sends extra fluid and blood to repair the damaged tissue. This type of inflammation serves an immediate purpose, to fight infection and heal wounds. When the job is finished, it goes away.
Sometimes, however, the body’s attempt to heal and protect itself goes into overdrive. Rather than coming and going for a specific purpose, inflammation lingers quietly for months or years. This is called chronic inflammation, and it can be associated with certain chronic health conditions.
Inflammation is an important component of many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including conditions such as lupus and multiple sclerosis. Persistent or chronic inflammation can be associated with a variety of different health conditions.
The why behind inflammation
There is no definitive answer as to why inflammation can persist and become chronic in some people.
Research suggests that chronic inflammation can be caused by many factors. It may be a malfunction, for example, in which the body is unable to turn off its natural defense. It may be that the body’s inflammatory response is poor and never rids itself of what causes inflammation in the first place, like bacteria.
Chronic inflammation may also be a response to ongoing stress, smoking or carrying extra weight. Researchers also believe that food and inflammation are also linked.
Chronic inflammation symptoms to discuss with your doctor
Chronic inflammation often goes unnoticed, until another illness, such as diabetes, heart disease or an autoimmune condition — like psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis — is diagnosed. Other potential symptoms of inflammation you may want to discuss with your doctor include:
- Fatigue.
- Muscle aches and joint paint.
- Weight gain.
- Skin rashes.
If you're concerned that you might be experiencing chronic inflammation, talk to your primary care provider.
Fight inflammation with an anti-inflammatory diet
Researchers have found associations between dietary patterns and markers of inflammation. Diets emphasizing vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and other minimally processed foods are associated with numerous health benefits. Research on how these changes in inflammatory pathways contribute to those health benefits is ongoing.
Are you dealing with chronic inflammation? Check out these anti-inflammatory foods, and see what foods to avoid.