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Inflammation

Inflammation is a natural reaction that occurs when your immune system is triggered. It can make you feel tired, swollen, grumpy or generally unwell. The causes of inflammation are almost endless, which is why there are an abundance of treatment options. The key to success is finding the treatment strategy that best addresses the cause.

If you’re dealing with inflammation, let’s investigate what it is, why it happens and how you could resolve it.

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is a natural process that occurs in response to:

a) injury

b) infection

c) irritation.

This complex immune system response involves various cells, chemicals, and blood vessels. Together, these cause an inflammatory cascade that triggers blood vessels to widen. As a result, increased blood flow reaches the area, creating redness, heat, and swelling.

There are 2 types of inflammation:

Acute inflammation

Has a short duration, usually resolving in 2 weeks or less. The onset of symptoms can be fast, sometimes unexpected. It’s useful as it helps your body recover from short term injury or illness.

Chronic inflammation

Has a duration of 6 weeks or more. In this instance, symptoms of inflammation may appear less severe. While the cause could be obvious, there are times when chronic inflammation has no clearly identifiable cause. In the latter, pathogens or immune dysfunction may prevent the inflammation from properly resolving. Examples include arthritis and Alzhiemer’s disease.

Signs and Symptoms of inflammation

The signs and symptoms of inflammation vary depending on the type and site of inflammation. In saying this, the most common inflammatory symptoms include:

Local Symptoms

  • Redness
  • Heat
  • Swelling
  • Pain
  • Stiffness
  • Tenderness
  • Skin changes, e.g. rash
  • Loss of function

Systemic Symptoms

  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Joint pain
  • Difficulty breathing, e.g. wheezing, shortness of breath
  • Coughing
  • Abdominal pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Diarrhoea
  • Vomiting
  • Poor sleep
  • Low libido
  • Mental health changes, e.g. depression, anxiety or other mood disorders.

Causes of inflammation

There are many causes of inflammation. Some of them are obvious and resolve quickly. Others have more complex causes and may take a lot of effort from the body to resolve.

Common causes of inflammation include:

  • Infections, including bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic
  • Acute injuries, such as cuts, burns, sprains, fractures
  • Overuse injuries, e.g. tendinitis and bursitis
  • Allergies, e.g. pollen, nuts, mould
  • Irritants, such as chemicals, pollution, smoke, drugs
  • Chronic stress
  • Poor diet that is high in processed foods, sugar or fats, or a diet that is lacking fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Exposure to radiation.

Most health conditions cause some degree of inflammation. Those associated with more severe or chronic inflammatory responses include:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Asthma
  • Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), e.g. Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis
  • Malabsorption disorders, e.g. Coeliac disease, SIBO, Leaky gut syndrome
  • Skin disorders, e.g. Psoriasis, eczema
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease
  • Diabetes
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Periodontal disease
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Autoimmune disorders, e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS).

Treatments and Home remedies to reduce inflammation

There are many strategies that can help reduce inflammation. Let’s look at options available from practitioners, as well as ways to cope at home.

Treatments

Medical treatment for inflammation includes the following.

Medications: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most common pharmaceutical. They can effectively reduce inflammation, and the pain it causes. The problem is they are known to have side effects that can impair health in the long term. Use with caution.

Injections: Corticosteroid injections can minimise inflammation in local areas. These can give big relief, but there are cases where they do not help much at all.

Supplements: There are an abundance of anti-inflammatory supplements, some also have analgesic properties. Consider antioxidant vitamins A, C, E to reduce inflammation and promote healing. Useful herbs include Cat’s Claw, Turmeric, Thyme. Consult a supplement specialist, like a Naturopath or Ayurveda practitioner, to ensure you use the correct supplement for your needs.

Acupuncture: Stimulates the release of chemicals that decrease pain and inflammation. Simultaneously, acupuncture points trigger feel-good chemicals that promote relaxation. This can give local and systemic relief.

Home remedies

Home remedies for inflammation include:

  • Eat a healthy diet that is full of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins.
  • Include loads of berries and leafy greens in your diet.
  • Add anti-inflammatory herbs & spices to your cooking, i.e. turmeric, ginger, nutmeg, fennel, garlic, cumin, coriander, lemon balm.
  • Limit inflammatory foods: processed or high in sugars or fats; cured meats; fried foods; wheat; gluten; soy; corn; dairy; artificial colours, flavours, preservatives.
  • Minimise alcohol and carbonated drinks
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Quit smoking
  • Exercise regularly
  • Reduce stress by meditating, being in nature, and doing things that are fun for you.

How is inflammation diagnosed?

Blood tests are the primary method used to diagnose inflammation and includes:

C-reactive protein (CRP): Indicates an inflammatory reaction, although it cannot pinpoint the exact cause or location.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): Another nonspecific marker of inflammation. Further investigation will be needed to identify the underlying cause.

Complete blood count (CBC): An elevated white blood cell count (leukocytosis) may indicate inflammatory processes. This is because these cells help resolve infections and injuries.

Differential blood count: Analyse the proportion of different types of white blood cells, such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. An increase or decrease in specific types of white blood cells can provide clues about the nature of inflammation.

Eosinophil count: Elevated levels can suggest allergies, parasitic infections, or autoimmune conditions.

Autoantibody tests: Used to give more detail if an autoimmune disorder is suspected.

Procalcitonin: Help distinguish between infectious and non-infectious causes of inflammation.

Conclusion

Inflammation is a natural process that can occur anywhere in the body. Its purpose is to protect you and stimulate healing in the affected area/s. Furthermore, it is the catalyst for recovering from injuries and infections. But, there are instances where inflammation persists and causes long-term complications and symptoms. Treating inflammation begins at home, but may also require support from a health professional.

Find a health expert who treats inflammation

FAQs

What are the symptoms of inflammation?

The 5 most common signs of inflammation are:

  1. Pain
  2. Warmth
  3. Redness
  4. Swelling
  5. Decreased mobility.

What are the most common causes of inflammation?

Inflammation may be caused by:

  • Infections
  • Injury
  • Exposure to toxins or allergens
  • Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus.

Is massage good for inflammation?

Yes, massage can help inflammatory conditions. Gentle massage can help reduce swelling and promote healing in affected areas.