5 Scary Facts About Chronic Inflammation

Now that it is allergy season I have frequent headaches and a stuffy nose. I also noticed that sometimes I also have achy and stiff joints. This is surprising because it is warmer out and it seems like warmer weather would result in looser joints.

Well I found out an astonishing link between seasonal allergies and sore joints!  Seasonal allergies cause chronic inflammation NCBI which can cause joint pain. OIP, CAAGeorgia

Inflammation is your body’s process of fighting against things that harm it, such as infections, injuries, and toxins. HealthLine   Acute inflammation is important to our health because it helps us heal. Bustle

Acute inflammation occurs after a cut on the knee, a sprained ankle or a sore throat.  It's a short-term response which impacts the place where the problem exits. LiveScience

However, if the inflammatory process goes on for too long or if the inflammatory response occurs in places where it is not needed, it can become a problem. Chronic inflammation is the type of inflammation that does more harm than good. Bustle

Given below are five scary facts about chronic inflammation:

1. Many symptoms
Some of the common signs and symptoms of chronic inflammation include: body pain, chronic fatigue and insomnia, depression, anxiety and mood disorders, gastrointestinal complications like constipation, diarrhea, and acid reflux, weight gain or weight loss, and frequent infections. NCBI  Additional symptoms include: fever, mouth sores, rashes, and chest pain. HealthLine

2. Can lead to disease and medical conditions
Chronic inflammation can continue for months or years.  It has been linked to diabetes, alzheimer’s, arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), psoriasis and depression. SunBasket, MedicalNewsToday

3. Caused by chemical additives and lifestyle 
Chemical additives to foods and cosmetics, pollutants, pesticides, and drugs (both prescription and recreational) can cause chronic inflammation. SunBasket

Alcohol, smoking, stress, and lack of exercise can also contribute to chronic inflammation. SunBasket   Chronic inflammation can be caused by genes (autoimmune disorders, autoinflammatory diseases) and persistent acute inflammation when you don't recover from an injury. Bustle, MedicalNewsToday 

4. Can cause build up of plaque in arteries
Chronic inflammation has been linked to heart disease and stroke.  When inflammatory cells stay too long in blood vessels, they promote the buildup of plaque.  If the plaque becomes unstable and ruptures, it forms a clot that blocks blood flow to the heart or brain, triggering a heart attack or stroke. LiveScience, Scientific American

5. Can cause digestive systems issues
Chronic gastrointestinal inflammation is one of the most common types of inflammation. Academic  Inflammation can bother your digestive system just as much as it hurts other parts of your body.  So if you have subtle stomach problems, then you may be experiencing low-grade inflammation. Bustle   

How to reduce inflammation in your body
A healthy diet and lifestyle can help keep inflammation under control. LiveScience   Eat more plant-based foods, improve sleep habits and exercise regularly. SunBasket, HuffPost

Avoid food additives such as aspartame.  Aspartame which is found in diet beverages is a neurotoxin that the body frequently "attacks" therefore causing inflammation. HWave

Add supplements to your diet such fish oil, vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium, NdHealthFacts tart cherries, USNews or tumeric HealthLine.

Take over the counter medicine according to your doctor's recommendation such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, or topical pain relievers. VeryWellHealth

Try Cannabidiol (CBD) oil which has been shown to reduce inflammation. CBD Oil 2/17/2019