We've all been there. You wake up feeling a little off, take your temperature and find that you have a low-grade fever. Your throat is a little red and your eyes are starting to swell. You're experiencing the first signs of inflammation, but what exactly is it?
Inflammation is the body's response to infection, injury, or irritation. The purpose of inflammation is to remove the initial cause of cell damage as well as any damaged cells, debris, or microorganisms so that the area can begin to heal. However, when inflammation persists for long periods of time, it can begin to wreak havoc.
Here are five ways chronic inflammation can impact your health:
Weight Gain
One of the most common side effects is weight gain. When you have inflammation, your body releases cytokines—a type of protein that signals your body to store fat. Chronic inflammation disrupts your metabolism making it difficult for your body to break down food properly, leading to weight gain. If you're struggling with unexplained weight gain, it could be due to chronic inflammation.
Digestive Issues
Chronic inflammation in the gut can lead to a host of digestive issues including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis—all inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). If you're experiencing persistent digestive issues, it's important to talk to your doctor as they could be caused by IBD or another inflammatory condition.
Anxiety And Depression
There's a strong link between inflammation and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Cytokines not only impact how we store fat but also how we feel mentally and emotionally. When cytokines are released, they can cause feelings of sadness, fatigue, and brain fog—all symptoms of depression. Research has shown that people with anxiety tend to have higher levels of inflammation than those without anxiety disorders. If you're struggling with mental health issues, chronic inflammation could be playing a role.
Joint Pain
Joint pain is a common symptom of arthritis but it can also be caused by other inflammatory conditions such as gout or bursitis. If you're dealing with chronic joint pain, it's important to talk to your doctor as treatment options are available that can help reduce both pain and inflammation.
Fatigue And Brain Fog
Fatigue is a common symptom of many conditions—both physical and mental—it can also be caused by chronic inflammation . Chronic inflammation causes your body to be in a constant state of stress which leads to fatigue. Research has shown that people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) tend to have higher levels of inflammatory markers than those without CFS . Brain fog—a term used to describe feelings of confusion or forgetfulness—is another common symptom of chronic inflammation. Cytokines released in response to inflammation can cause problems with memory and cognitive function. Unexplained fatigue or brain fog could be due to chronic inflammation.
Acute inflammation is necessary for healing but chronic inflammation can cause serious health problems. If you're struggling with unexplained weight gain, digestive issues, joint pain, fatigue or brain fog, it could be due to uncontrolled inflammation.
Don 't let chronic inflammation slow you down!
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