Chronic inflammation is a condition that has received a lot of attention recently in wellness circles – and for good reason. Inflammation has been found to be a player in nearly every chronic disease, which affects about 133 million Americans or more than 40% of the U.S. population. Here’s what you need to know and how chiropractic can help.
What is Inflammation?
When you look at inflammation alone, it isn’t harmful. It is a healthy and normal response by the body to preserve itself. Inflammation helps remove debris from the body like irritants and pathogens so the healing process can begin. The problem arises when regular inflammation becomes chronic inflammation. At this point, the body creates even more inflammation to respond to the existing inflammation that can have serious consequences.
Causes of Chronic Inflammation
Chronic inflammation is caused by imbalances in the immune system. Your acquired immune system develops over time in response to exposure to our environment. The more successes it has, the stronger it becomes. Additional causes include certain lifestyles and foods, not getting enough restful sleep, and too much stress. Chronic inflammation can also be a result of the body’s inability to eliminate the cause of acute inflammation or an autoimmune response where the immune system is unable to differentiate between unhealthy pathogens and healthy tissue.
Symptoms & Signs of Chronic Inflammation
Most people aren’t aware they have chronic inflammation until they are diagnosed with a disease that is associated with it such as Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Some signs to be aware of include:
Weight gain
Shortness of breath
Indigestion
Stiffness
Congestion
Frequent infections
Painful joints
Skin problems
Lethargy and fatigue
High blood pressure
Allergies and asthma
How Healthy Life Chiropractic Can Help
Studies show that chiropractic adjustments can help reduce the production of two inflammatory cytokines, thus reducing inflammation in the body. Along with adjustments, anti-inflammatory diets, certain supplements, and treatments such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help with inflammation.
Chronic inflammation can have a very serious impact on your health if left untreated. To learn more about how your local Newnan, GA chiropractor can help, click here to contact us.