Indeed, inflammation can be the cause of many diseases, and this is not only my opinion, but also that of many experts in the field of medicine. Of course, this opinion is based on existing research and studies.
Like any pathological process, inflammation is inherently a contradictory process. It combines the mobilization of the body's defenses and the phenomenon of damage.
But let's take it from the beginning.
What is inflammation and why does it occur?
Inflammation is a normal process which occurs in response to injury or to the penetration of an infectious agent into the body. Our body uses inflammation to fight various stressful conditions. The problem is that in some people inflammation goes away quickly, while in others it drags on for a long time, turning into chronic.
If inflammation persists in the long term, it can be very harmful. Below are some of the possible complications of chronic inflammation:
- cardiovascular diseases – there are several studies that have demonstrated the link between inflammatory markers and the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases.
- cancer – chronic inflammation can cause ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, colorectal, kidney, or lung cancer;
- diabetes – chronic inflammation increases the risk of diabetes, which in turn increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetic retinopathy, and nephropathy;
- allergic asthma – a delayed immune system response caused by chronic inflammation can also lead to asthma.
- Alzheimer's – chronic inflammation contributes to Alzheimer's and dementia in adults over 60;
- chronic kidney disease – chronic inflammation is one of the main causes of kidney problems.
- inflammatory bowel disease – chronic inflammation occurring along the digestive tract can lead to inflammatory bowel disease, in the worst cases evolving into Crohn's disease or inflammation of the rectum.
Reading all this information about inflammation and its possible consequences, I think my readers will have a question: What causes the appearance of an inflammatory process in the body? In addition to the causes mentioned above, such as injury, bacteria, or viruses, there are other factors that can lead to a long-term inflammatory process, such as:
- Age: in older people, chronic inflammation is more common. This is probably due to the fact that over time, cells begin to function worse, and oxidative stress increases.
- Obesity: fat can function as an endocrine organ that releases inflammatory mediators
- Food: certain food components can be called pro-inflammatory. First of all, these are saturated fats and added sugars. Inflammatory foods include, for example, sugary drinks, white bread, chips, and fried potatoes.
- Smoking and alcohol make it harder for the body to fight inflammation.
- Physical and emotional stress is associated with the production of inflammatory cytokines. It can lead to sleep disorders, which are considered an independent risk factor for chronic inflammation.
- Toxic environment: unfortunately, air pollution, water pollution, as well as pesticides, herbicides, artificial ingredients in foods, chemicals in common household products are part of modern life that can disrupt homeostasis, causing inflammation.
- Chronic infections: the immune system becomes more vulnerable due to latent infections, and inflammatory processes intensify.
- Deficiency of certain vitamins and elements also increases inflammation. It is worth paying special attention to the following elements: vitamin D, B group vitamins, Omega 3, Zinc, Glutathione.
If you feel weak, you have memory problems, your mood changes frequently, you feel pain in your muscles and joints, you often get sick, you sleep poorly, you constantly feel tired, then your body can warn you about the presence of an inflammatory process. To exclude this possibility or receive an appropriate treatment, you need to visit a specialist.
I have some important recommendations on the topic of chronic inflammation that I want to share with you, namely, I would like to explain how you can slow down these destructive processes or even stop them.