What is Inflammation? Exploring the Links Between Chronic Diseases

If you have been reading health articles over a while you must have come across the word Inflammation- a word very commonly used but misunderstood. Inflammation is not a disease but a response to something going wrong in your body. Inflammation is an indicator that the body is fighting back.

Understanding what is inflammation and how to identify it can help us spot potential life-threatening diseases, seek medical help, use lifestyle changes to combat inflammation, and save ourselves a lot of pain and financial burden.

1. What causes inflammation in the body?

When the body has any kind of injury, infection, or trauma the immune system sends inflammatory cells to attack the affected area and heal the damaged cells. There is a steady increase in the white blood cells which are fighting off what is troubling the body. The body’s inflammatory response happens in a healthy functioning body. It is a survival mechanism. Once the body sends out inflammatory responses, the healing process begins.  Inflammation is very important to keep the human body safe and strong. Inflammation is good because in a way it protects the body and enables it to survive in hostile conditions.

 

2. What is the main cause of inflammation in the body?

It is difficult to pinpoint the main cause of inflammation since several factors cause inflammation. Mostly it is an infection, bacteria, allergies, autoimmune disorder, external factors like pollution, toxins, chemicals emitted into the air, industrial waste, or an injury to the body.   

Obesity which is sometimes seen as being healthy is a growing cause of inflammation in the body among populations across the world. Inflammatory cells like macrophages are attracted by fat cells. Obesity affects the normal secretion of insulin which in turn leads to type 2 diabetes, and full-blown diabetes which in turn leads to hypertension and cardiovascular disorders. So, you see the chain that forms. Simply by reducing obesity and meeting the ideal height/age-to-weight ratio you can break this chain of deadly diseases.

3. Two main types of Inflammation

There are 2 types of inflammation- acute and chronic inflammation

Acute Inflammation- the body’s response to fight infection and speed up the healing process. How speedily the body responds depends on the general health and immunity of the body. It is generally a short fight and the body recovers quickly.

Chronic Inflammation – the same response of the body when prolonged inflammation becomes chronic inflammation. The body continues to fight sending large amounts of white blood cells to deal with the infection or injury.



4. What does inflammation feel like?

The key to a better quality of life is recognizing signs of inflammation in the body.

These are the warning signs of hidden inflammation

• Fever
• Pain
• Swelling
• Redness
• Tenderness
• Inability to move
• Bleeding – gums or any part of the body
• Cold, flu, and body aches
• Loss of function like hearing, sight, smell
• Digestive problems like Diarrhoea

 

These are all warning signs that your body is full of toxins and you need to make changes immediately.

Inflammation types - Acute vs. Chronic inflammation

While acute inflammation can be seen and felt, chronic inflammation is a full-blown medical condition that needs treatment. Many people wonder what is Chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs).  It is generally a severe internal inflammation or a whole-body inflammation that leads to conditions like:-

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Cancer
• diabetes
• malignancy
• auto-immune disease
• chronic hepatic
• renal disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis

And many other medical conditions

 

5. Impact of inflammation on daily life and relationships.

Inflammation is the body fighting back. When your body is at war, small or big, the body undergoes some changes and drawbacks.  

So, inflammation does affect your day-to-day activities. Like swelling in the ankles hampers your ability to walk. Headaches may not allow you to concentrate on your work. Digestive issues like pain, cramping, and diarrhoea cause discomfort and prevent you from going about your daily routine.

Mood swings, depression, panic attacks, and anxiety can affect your behaviour and how you conduct yourself with people around you. Autisms, AHAD can also be traced to inflammation.

 

6. Most common causes of Inflammation

After knowing and understanding what is inflammation, we all begin to wonder what causes inflammation.

Any external factor that negatively affects the regular functioning of the body sets the immune system into action. It begins to overwork itself to protect the body and this over time work by the immune system is nothing but inflammation. The human body sends out inflammatory cells and cytokines. Depending on how you feed your body, inflammation will reduce, and your body will either reduce cytokines or increase the rate. Cytokines are tiny protein cells that control the activities of the immune system and do the work of cell signalling. So, when inflammation is increasing more cytokines are released.

 

The next obvious question that will pop up in your brain is what is the main cause of inflammation in the body?

The main factors are:-

Foods:

Excessive consumption of sugar, alcohol, and tobacco. Inflammatory foods are all kinds of junk foods, colas, chips, French fries, and sugar treats. Oil when heated repeatedly to fry food becomes inflammatory. Deep-fried food is also considered inflammatory. Processed food and frozen foods are highly inflammatory. Like salami, Smilies and frozen snacks.

 

Environmental factors: -

Many chemicals in the air trigger inflammation. Chemicals used in paints, furnishing, sprays etc. in your rooms lead to low chemical emissions. Other pollutants include nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, ozone, particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde, limonene, and benzene. Some pollutants are emitted from products we buy while others are industrial pollutants in the air.

Inflammation is also caused by pest and rodenticides, cleaning supplies, personal care products like lipsticks and moisturisers, nail paint, pollen, fungal spores, lead, PCBs and asbestos.

 

 

Emotional Health: -

One aspect of health that some of us do not take into consideration is that one’s state of mind is directly linked to one’s state of body.

The field of Psychoneuroimmunology is a field that studies the link between immunity, the endocrine system of the body and stress factors affecting the body.

Chronic stress affects the immunity of the body, when immunity drops inflammation increases. Chronic stress can be caused by numerous external factors such as relationship problems, financial burdens or crises, death of a near and dear one, and heartaches – which is a medical condition when you are deeply pained by an incident.

 

7. How to identify inflammation?

A large percentage of the human population does not know what is inflammation and does not understand how to get rid of inflammation in the body.

Therefore, it is important to understand that inflammation is not bad. Short-term inflammation plays its role in healing the body from infections, injuries, tenderness, heat in the place of injury and pain. But once the body heals, the inflammation needs to disappear. When it doesn’t, it turns into chronic inflammation.

Identifying chronic inflammation is extremely important to avoid chronic inflammatory disease.

Short-term swelling, pain, redness, sore feeling, tiredness, and inability to perform daily tasks need not be much of a concern. But once you find this condition persistent for more than 1 week you must visit a doctor.

 

The typical chronic inflammation symptoms are

• Chronic fatigue
• Insomnia
• Sudden weight gain and weight loss
• Constipation, diarrhoea, and acid reflux that last for more than 7 days
• Blood does not clot
• Excessive mucus
• Insulin resistance
• Depression and anxiety
• Balance problems
• Skin problems
• Lower back pain

8. How to lower inflammation

Once you know the symptoms of inflammation, you can help yourself to a large extent to reduce inflammation in the body. A holistic approach with proper diagnosis and medical intervention will help inflammation leave the body.

 

How to reduce inflammation?

• Begin with good hydration- water when consumed in correct amounts helps flush out toxins through urine.
• Ensure regular bowel movements and avoid getting constipated.
• Consume anti-inflammatory foods like – berries, spinach, raw vegetable juices, lots of steamed vegetables, fruits, millet etc. Eat home-cooked, freshly made meals cooked in unrefined oils. Avoid junk food, frozen processed foods, saturated fats, hydrogenated vegetable oils, food colours, artificial preservatives and packeted snacks.
• We can also make small changes to keep our environment toxic-free- like using organic products, conducting annual air quality screening, making natural cleaners, reducing the use of plastic and using biodegradable products.
• A doctor will guide you to take supplements to help the immune system.
• Quit smoking and avoid alcohol for the period of recovery.

• Doctors may prescribe NSAIDs and aspirin, Steroids, Topical analgesics

9. When to seek medical help?

Chronic inflammation left undiagnosed and untreated can lead to early death. Do not ignore inflammation.

• Swelling that is increasing
• Stiffness in joints
• Prolonged fever
• Recurrent colds within short spans
• Pain in any part of the body that lasts for more than 5 days
• Loss of any basic functions of the body
• Severe shortness of breath.

10. Test to find out if inflammation exists

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) blood test

ESR checks for protein in the blood. Inflammation or infection causes extra protein in the blood. If there is extra protein in the blood the red blood cells stick together and form clumps and quickly settle to the bottom of the test tube in which your blood is collected. High ESR levels mean inflammation or infection.

Readings normal range –

for men - 0-22 mm/hr

For women  - 0-29 mm/hr for women

C-reactive protein (CRP) blood test

CRP test is done through a blood sample. It checks for specific protein C-reactive proteins that the liver makes. The liver releases more CRP if there is an infection or inflammation in the body.

Readings - normal range

less than 3 mg/L and nearly always less than 10 mg/L.

Procalcitonin (PCT) blood test

Procalcitonin is a biomarker test that checks for bacterial infections in your blood. High levels of PCT in your body means, your body is fighting a serious infection. This test is used to check an infection that is affecting the whole body. Also used to diagnose kidney infections or urinary tract infections.  

This test is carried out through blood samples.

Readings- normal range

above 0.25mcg/L indicative of chest infection; levels above 0.5ng/mL can confirm sepsis.

Plasma viscosity (PV) blood test

Not as widely used as ESR to detect inflammation. This test measures the blood viscosity or thickness of the blood sample taken which is also called Plasma viscosity. This is affected by the protein levels that increase in the blood due to infection. Therefore, it is also known as the inflammatory marker test.

A blood sample is taken from a vein in the arm to test PV levels

Readings - normal range - for adults is 1.50-1.72 mPA.

 

11. The role of alternative therapy in treating inflammation

 

By now we have thoroughly understood that there is a direct connection between the food we eat, the environment we live in, the lifestyle we adopt and inflammation in our body.

While external injuries and infection may be beyond our control, we can live consciously by being aware of factors that affect our body and how to manage them correctly. Awareness will also help you not develop inflammation.

Alternative therapy can help heal inflammation to a great extent and also there are natural ways to relieve inflammation.

Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, acupuncture treatment, natural supplements, stress management, therapy like art, and music, relaxing therapy like mud therapy, hydrotherapy, massages with essential oils, and even smelling essential oils help relieve stress.

Naturopathy uses natural anti-inflammatory supplements like turmeric, garlic etc. to treat inflammation. These have proved to be very effective.

Meditation can calm the mind and reduce stress. Regular meditation can help regulate the immune system. Meditation can help where psychological stress plays a role in inflammation like cases of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma.

Exercise plays a crucial role in reducing fat mass, visceral fat and adipose tissue which contributes to systematic inflammation. Moderate exercise can reduce cytokines naturally. 

12. A New Beginning - Life after Treating Inflammation

 

Those who have managed to overcome inflammation will bear witness to the change they have left. It is like living a new life with a new body.

From more energy levels to better moods, improved interpersonal relationships to better financial growth. A healthy body can achieve any limits.

Life becomes beautiful and enjoyable without aches and pains, swelling and headaches.

Renewed energy with no inflammation will lead to a long life span allowing you to be productive even through the later years of  your life.