Chronic inflammatory diseases, such as diabetes, heart problems, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are the leading causes of death in the United States. These conditions are often preventable with adequate lifestyle modifications and medications for chronic inflammation.
This article explains chronic inflammation, what causes it, and what treatments can help mitigate and reverse the process.
What Is a Chronic Inflammatory Disease?
Chronic inflammatory diseases are those associated with chronic inflammation - the body’s continual, long-term attempt to heal following an injury, infection, or exposure to toxic elements.
Inflammation is part of the body’s natural healing process. It is necessary and beneficial in its acute phase. However, when it becomes chronic, inflammation can lead to severe, life-threatening diseases.
Acute vs. Chronic Inflammation
Acute inflammation is the body’s immediate defensive response to a harmful element that damages our tissues, such as bacteria, viruses, physical injury, or a poisonous element. The body increasingly produces white blood cells to heal the injury, causing swelling and inflammation and lasting for several days or weeks.
Chronic inflammation occurs when the body fails to remove the harmful element and continues to produce white blood cells and inflammatory cytokines to reduce inflammation. It typically lasts several months or continues for years, depending on what causes it and how it is managed. In some cases, the immune system mistakenly perceives a normal component of the body as a harmful foreign invader and attacks healthy tissues, causing chronic inflammation.
Acute inflammation is apparent and temporary. Chronic inflammation is often silent, does not exhibit any symptoms, and gradually damages our health.
Note: Learn more about the differences between acute and chronic inflammation and how to treat them.
Chronic Inflammation Symptoms
Patients can have chronic inflammation without experiencing any symptoms for a long time. When they appear, symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating and gas
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Stiff and painful joints
- Painful muscles
- Fever
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Weight gain or loss
- Skin rash
Chronic Inflammation Causes
Chronic inflammation can stem from:
- Unhealthy diet
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Excess weight
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Smoking
- Exposure to chemical toxins and pollutants
- Autoimmune disorders
- Stress
- Sleep disorders
How Is Chronic Inflammation Diagnosed?
Healthcare providers typically test for chronic inflammation when the patient suffers from associated health problems. The provider first physically examines the patient and discusses their symptoms and medical history. Then, they perform a blood test.
Blood tests that show systemic inflammation include:
- C-reactive protein (CRP) test – Measures the level of C-reactive proteins produced in the liver in response to inflammation.
- Fibrinogen test – Measures fibrinogen protein levels in the liver; doctors use it when they suspect abnormal blood clotting due to inflammation.
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) – Indirectly shows inflammation by measuring the rate of red blood cell sedimentation.
- Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) – Measures specific proteins in blood plasma to establish malignancies, autoimmune diseases, and other conditions related to inflammation.
Your doctor may also order other tests to confirm the diagnosis and assess specific organs affected by inflammation, including X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, biopsy, and other specialized tests.
Can You Prevent Chronic Inflammation?
Chronic inflammation is preventable. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle reduces the chance of experiencing long-term inflammation and resulting health problems.
Healthy lifestyle habits include:
- Maintaining optimal weight.
- Limiting alcohol intake.
- Quitting smoking.
- Aiming for 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night.
- Avoiding stress.
- Limiting exposure to industrial toxins.
How to Treat Chronic Inflammation in the Body?
The key to effective and sustainable treatment of chronic inflammation is to make all the necessary lifestyle changes. Some patients may also need medications.
Diet Modification
Our eating habits largely contribute to gut health. Consistently eating refined carbohydrates, fried and processed foods, trans fats, and cured meats creates an imbalance in the ratio of good and bad bacteria in our digestive system, promoting permanent, low-level inflammation.
The first step of reversing the process is to limit or eliminate inflammatory products and eat more anti-inflammatory foods, such as leafy greens, tomatoes, onions, fresh fruits (especially berries), fatty fish, nuts, seeds, and spices (e.g., turmeric, garlic). Remove seed oil from your diet and incorporate clean, pasture-raised, grass-fed animal proteins.
The Mediterranean diet incorporates all the principles for eating healthy, balanced meals, helping to ward off diseases.
Note: Find out about other foods that reduce inflammation in our article on anti-inflammatory diets.
Increased Physical Activity
Mounting scientific evidence suggests regular exercise helps protect against various diseases, including inflammatory conditions. Just 20-30 minutes of daily, moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, light jogging, yoga, or Pilates, can balance hormones, reduce stress, and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Healthy Weight
Studies have shown that fatty cells in overweight patients produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, exacerbating inflammation and associated diseases. Weight regulation is one of the key strategies for improving health parameters.
People with up to 30 excess pounds may be able to lose weight naturally by following a calorie-restricted diet and exercising daily. Obese patients typically need medical help. Medical weight loss programs incorporate a comprehensive plan including nutritional counseling, a special exercise regime, supplements and medications that regulate blood sugar levels and reduce appetite, IV therapy, weight loss injections, and other medical treatments.
Note: Our medical professionals at Vibrant Vitality Clinic offer proven medical weight loss solutions for safe and sustainable weight loss. Contact them to reach your weight goals.
Supplements
Supplements are effective in supporting weight loss efforts. They have a synergistic effect when combined with a balanced diet and regular physical activity. Natural supplements, such as zinc, chromium, omega-3 fatty acids, resveratrol, spirulina, vitamin D, vitamin C, glutathione, ashwagandha, and green tea, have potent anti-inflammatory properties, helping to improve immunity and overall health. Doctors also recommend taking probiotics to improve gut health, balance hormones, and help reduce inflammation.
Note: Learn about the benefits of omega 3 and ashwagandha for the skin.
Stress Relief
Chronic stress triggers various hormonal imbalances, leading to inflammation and damaging vital organs. Engaging in stress-relieving activities and taking vitamins for stress helps to reduce cortisol levels and soothe inflammation.
Improved Sleep
Sleep disorders are associated with hormonal imbalances, weight gain, and other health parameters that exacerbate inflammation. Doctors recommend strategies for improved sleep that include going to bed at the same time every night, creating an atmosphere stimulative to comfortable sleep, and potentially taking supplements (e.g., melatonin) to ensure at least seven hours of deep, uninterrupted sleep.
Quitting Smoking
Smoking is linked to various chronic illnesses, including inflammatory diseases, and it radically increases mortality. There is no safe level of nicotine, so doctors recommend eliminating smoking altogether to improve health.
Medications
Doctors sometimes prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to patients with chronic illnesses that perpetuate inflammation. Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and aspirin relieve pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with heart problems may need statins to reduce inflammation-induced cardiovascular events. Patients with diabetes may be prescribed metformin and GLP-1 medications to reduce inflammation.
Note: Find out more natural, healthy ways to reduce inflammation.
What Happens if You Don’t Treat Chronic Inflammation
Unresolved chronic inflammation may lead to severe, life-threatening diseases. Half of total deaths worldwide result from inflammatory diseases.
Here are some of the conditions that result from chronic inflammation:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Type 2 diabetes
- Inflammatory bowel syndrome
- Crohn’s disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Fibromyalgia
- Multiple sclerosis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Psoriasis
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cancer
When Should You See a Doctor?
If you experience common inflammation symptoms, such as gastrointestinal problems, joint pain, or mood disorders for an extended period, consult your healthcare provider for further steps. They may order lab and other diagnostic tests to determine what is causing your medical concerns and prescribe adequate treatment.
Conclusion
Chronic inflammation silently damages organs and tissues, leading to severe and, sometimes, fatal diseases. A healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent many of these conditions. It is also a necessary component of the medical treatment plan when a more severe illness occurs.
Contact our experienced medical professionals at Vibrant Vitality Clinic to discuss your treatment options and learn how to incorporate lifestyle habits that sustainably eliminate inflammation.
