Inflammation – What you need to know!

Your immune system creates inflammation to protect your body from infection, injury, or disease. There are many things you cannot heal without inflammation.

Sometimes with autoimmune diseases, like certain types of arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, your immune system attacks healthy cells.

Inflammation is classified into two main types:

Acute inflammation: Usually short-lived (but often severe). It usually goes away in two weeks or less. Symptoms appear quickly and also restore your body to its pre-injury or illness state.

Chronic inflammation: Milder and usually less severe form of inflammation. It usually lasts more than six weeks. It can happen even when there is no injury and does not always end when the illness or injury is healed. Chronic inflammation is linked to autoimmune disorders and even prolonged stress.

5 signs of inflammation:

– Heat

– Pain

– Reddish

– Swelling

– loss of function

The specific symptoms you have depend on where in your body the inflammation is and what is causing it. Prolonged inflammation can lead to a number of symptoms and affects your body in many ways. Common symptoms of chronic inflammation may include:

– Body pain

– Constant fatigue and insomnia

– Depression, anxiety and other mood disorders

Gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, diarrhea and acid reflux

– Weight gain

– Frequent infections

Symptoms can also vary depending on whether the condition has an inflammatory component. For example, in some autoimmune conditions, your immune system affects your skin, leading to a rash. In others, it attacks specific glands, affecting hormone levels in the body.

In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks your joints. You may encounter:

– Joint pain, swelling, stiffness or loss of joint function

– Weariness

– Numbness and tingling

– Limited range of motion

In inflammatory bowel disease, inflammation occurs in the digestive tract. Some common symptoms include:

– Diarrhea

– Stomach pain, cramps or bloating

– Weight loss and anemia

– Bleeding sores

In multiple sclerosis, your body attacks the myelin sheath. This is the protective covering of nerve cells. You may encounter:

– Numbness and tingling in an arm, leg or side of the face

– Balance problem

– Double vision, blurred vision or partial loss of vision

– Weariness

– Cognitive problems, like brain fog

Many factors can lead to inflammation, such as:

– Chronic and acute conditions

– Certain drugs

– Exposure to irritants or foreign materials that your body cannot easily get rid of

Recurrent episodes of acute inflammation can also lead to a chronic inflammatory response.

There are also certain foods that can cause or worsen inflammation in people with autoimmune disorders.

These foods include:

– Street

– Refined carbohydrates

– Alcohol

– Processed meat

– Trans fats

There is no single test that can diagnose inflammation or the conditions that cause it. Instead, based on your symptoms, your doctor may order any of the tests below to make a diagnosis.

Blood tests

There are several so-called markers that help diagnose inflammation in the body. However, these signs are nonspecific, meaning that an abnormal level may indicate that something is wrong, but not that something is amiss.

Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE)

SPE is considered the best way to confirm chronic inflammation. It measures certain proteins in the liquid part of the blood to identify any problems. Too much or too little of these proteins can indicate inflammation and point to other conditions.

C-reactive protein (CRP)

CRP is produced naturally in the liver in response to inflammation. High levels of CRP in your blood can be caused by a number of inflammatory conditions.

Although this test is very sensitive to inflammation, it does not help distinguish between acute and chronic inflammation, as CRP will be elevated in both. High levels combined with certain symptoms can help your doctor make a diagnosis.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

The ESR test is sometimes called the sedimentation rate test. This test indirectly measures inflammation by measuring how quickly red blood cells sink in a blood tube. The faster they sink, the more likely you are to get inflammation.

The ESR test is rarely done alone, as it does not help identify the specific cause of the inflammation. Instead, it can help your doctor determine that inflammation is occurring. It can also help them keep track of your condition.

Plasma viscosity

This test measures the thickness of the blood. Inflammation or infection can thicken the plasma.

Other blood tests

If your doctor believes the inflammation is caused by a virus or bacteria, they may perform other specific tests. In this case, your doctor can discuss with you what to expect.

Other diagnostic tests

If you have certain symptoms — such as chronic diarrhea or numbness on one side of your face — your doctor may order imaging tests to check certain parts of your body or brain. MRI and X-ray are commonly used.

To diagnose inflammation of the digestive tract, a doctor may perform a test to view the insides of the digestive tract. These tests may include:

– Colonoscopy

– sigmoidoscopy

– Colonoscopy

Sometimes, fighting inflammation can be as simple as changing your diet. By avoiding sugar, trans fats, and processed foods, you can put yourself on a path to feeling better.

There are also foods that can actually fight inflammation: Berries and cherries, fatty fish (like salmon or mackerel), broccoli, avocados, green tea, mushrooms, like portobello and shiitake

spices such as turmeric, ginger and cloves, tomatoes.

How to follow an anti-inflammatory diet:

You can help reduce inflammation by doing the following:

– Take supplements. Your doctor can help you decide which is best and safest for you.

Use heat or cold therapy for physical injuries to reduce swelling and discomfort.

– Exercise more often.

Inflammation is a normal and natural part of your body’s immune response. However, prolonged or chronic inflammation can lead to adverse effects. It seems to be associated more often with autoimmune disorders.

If you’re experiencing any signs of persistent inflammation, make an appointment with your doctor. They may run some tests and look at your symptoms to see if you need treatment for any underlying conditions.

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