You often hear doctors recommend anti-inflammatory diets and prescribe inflammation-fighting medications, but just what is inflammation? When your immune system works properly, inflammation protects your cells and tissues from outside threats, such as bacteria, viruses, and toxic chemicals. However, when immune cells overreact, you can end up with chronic inflammation, which is detrimental to your health. Here are 11 ways chronic inflammation affects your body.
Digestive Trouble
Normally, the immune cells clustered around your intestines ignore the trillions of beneficial bacteria that live in your digestive tract. However, if the immune system goes haywire, the cells can start reacting to the bacteria and cause an autoimmune condition called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Symptoms include cramps, diarrhea, and ulcers.
Joint Pain
When inflammation occurs in the joints, it causes arthritis. This disease can manifest in over 100 different forms, including osteoarthritis (wear and tear of the joints) and rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease).
Heart Disease
The formation of fatty plaque deposits in the arteries, which is often caused by obesity and unhealthy eating, can trigger an inflammatory response. As the plaque deposits grow, blood clots can form, which may lead to a heart attack. However, even individuals with healthy eating habits and a normal body mass index have an increased risk of heart disease if they have an inflammation-causing autoimmune disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis or IBD.
Cancer Risk
When chronic inflammation occurs, immune regulation deteriorates, creating the optimal environment for cancer cells to grow. Cancer of the lungs, esophagus, cervix, and digestive tract, among others, has been linked to chronic inflammation.
Breathing Difficulties
Inflamed lungs can cause fluid to accumulate, airways to narrow, and breathing to become difficult. These characteristics can lead to infections, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Sleep Problems
According to a 2009 study originally published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleeping for significantly more or less than the recommended average of seven to nine hours per night is linked to higher levels of inflammation-related proteins in the blood. Shift work is also correlated with increased inflammation. It’s unclear whether inflammation triggers sleep problems, or if sleeping too much or too little triggers an inflammatory response.
Gum Disease
When inflammation occurs in the mouth, it can lead to gum disease, which weakens and damages the skeletal structure surrounding your teeth. Inflamed gums are also linked to other conditions as diverse as heart disease and dementia because the harmful bacteria that grow in the mouth of a person with gum disease can trigger inflammation elsewhere in the body.
Weight Gain
While obesity is a significant contributor to chronic inflammation, losing weight is sometimes easier said than done. That’s because obesity can cause the levels of inflammation-related proteins to rise, increasing hunger signals and slowing metabolism. As a result, you eat more and burn fewer calories. Chronic inflammation can also raise your risk for diabetes and make you more vulnerable to future weight gain.
Bone Damage
Inflammatory markers in the blood are thought to disrupt the process of replacing old, damaged pieces of bone with new ones. As a result, inflammation can interfere with bone growth and may even contribute to bone loss. Inflammation in the digestive tract is especially damaging because it can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb nutrients vital to bone health, including vitamin D and calcium.
Skin Damage
Some inflammatory conditions can be observed from the outside. Psoriasis, an autoimmune disorder linked to inflammation, occurs when skin cells grow too quickly. Chronic inflammation, along with sun exposure and other environmental factors, may also contribute to the formation of wrinkles and other visible signs of aging.
Depression
Brain inflammation is thought to be linked to depressive symptoms, such as poor sleep, lack of appetite, and low mood. Therefore, anti-inflammatory treatments could be one way to treat some forms of depression.
Treat Chronic Inflammation at Spine Correction Center of the Rockies
Clearly, chronic inflammation is a serious medical condition with numerous potential consequences for your health. Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce inflammation, including receiving anti-inflammatory joint injections at Spine Correction Center of the Rockies. Our services are designed to help promote a healthier you without pharmaceuticals or invasive procedures.
If you’re interested in improving your health, reducing symptoms related to chronic inflammation, and reducing the risk of future disease, our experienced medical team can help! Call our Fort Collins office at (970) 658-5115 to request a free consultation today.
