What is Inflammation
Inflammation is the immune system’s first line of defense when battling foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungus, disease, and injury. It can be a lifesaving response that our body deploys to protect us. For example, if you cut yourself, the wound is exposed to foreign invaders that can make their way into your body. Your immune system releases white blood cells around the infected area to fight foreign pathogens. You can physically observe the reaction through redness, swelling, warmth, and pain surrounding the affected area. Inflammation becomes a problem when it becomes chronic, meaning you are continuously inflamed. You may not even know that you have chronic inflammation because the symptoms may be subtle.
What Causes inflammation Other Than Physical Injury, Colds, and Flu?
There are many contributing factors, such as lifestyle, digestive issues, stress, and the foods we eat.
How Does Inflammation Affect the Brain?
Inflammation and Depression
There is growing research suggesting that there may be a correlation between inflammation and depression. It is known to block the neural pathways making it harder to send communication signals to the brain. Inflammation also interferes with the production and transportation of the happy chemicals (serotonin and dopamine) to the brain.
Cytokines present in the blood are usually an indication of inflammation. Cytokines are a protein that communicates inflammatory signals throughout the body, so an excessive amount would indicate inflammation. These levels tend to be higher in those with anxiety and depression. Cytokines block oxygen from reaching the tissues from the capillaries, resulting in lower blood oxygen levels. Maintaining healthy blood oxygen levels is vital for an optimally functioning brain and body.
Inflammation and Anxiety
There have been few studies done on the correlation between inflammation and anxiety, but it is known that people with PTSD have higher than normal levels. PTSD and panic attacks cause stress to the body. Each panic attack causes stress, and chronic stress contributes to chronic inflammation, which then causes more anxiety. This can keep anxiety and inflammation in a perpetual ongoing cycle.
The Happiest Tribes in the World Have an Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle
Consider some of the happiest and healthiest tribes in the world, which are the Hunza people of Northern Pakistan and the Abkhazia people of the Northeast Coast of the Black Sea. Their diet and way of living are conducive to an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. They mostly eat raw plant-based foods, such as fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, while not consuming any refined oils, flour, or sugar. They are extremely active throughout the day and embrace a simple lifestyle, which means they typically have less stress than most other people in the world.
The two types of inflammation are acute and chronic
Acute inflammation usually arises as a result of injury or infection. Chronic inflammation is usually associated with diseases, such as arthritis, allergies, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, asthma, and heart disease.
Symptoms of Acute Inflammation
- Pain when the affected area is touched.
- Continuous pain in the same area.
- Loss of function mostly due to swelling, such as the inability to move joins as a result of arthritis.
- Swelling as a result of blood flow, and fluid buildup.
- Heat or redness as a result of increased blood flow to the affected area.
Symptoms of Chronic Inflammation
- Chronic fatigue, nausea, and insomnia
- Digestive disorders that include bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and acid reflux
- Chronic stress, depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders
- Recurring inflections, such as sinus infections, UTI, yeast infections, or candida
What Causes Inflammation?
- Stress & Oxidative Stress
- Smoking
- Insomnia
- Old Age
- Obesity or Being Overweight
- Poor Eating Habits
- Low Sex Hormone
What Causes Inflammation?
#1 Smoking
Smoking can contribute to inflammation by damaging the lungs, causing oxidative stress, and triggering the release of white blood cells called neutrophils.
#2 Stress and Oxidative Stress
Stress and oxidative stress trigger the release of anti-inflammatory stress hormones. However, chronic stress deteriorates the stress hormone’s ability to keep inflammation in check, resulting in more inflammation down the line.
#3 Insomnia
We produce inflammatory markers called cytokines during our sleep. Sleep deprivation would deprive the body of this anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory chemical. This means inflammation would fail to protect us when needed or get out of control due to a lack of cytokines to keep it in check.
#4 Old Age
Inflammation due to old age could be a result of accumulated free radicals, body fat, and deterioration of the brain and body over time. We are all susceptible to increased inflammation as we age, but the goal would be to keep it in check as much as possible.
#5 Obesity or Being Overweight
Obesity or being overweight triggers an inflammatory response because our immune system views it as a threat. This can become dangerous when inflammation occurs within the arterial walls where fat is located. Inflammation can constrict blood flow, even more, leading to problems related to the brain and heart.
#6 Poor Eating Habits
Poor eating habits include excessive red or processed meat, sugar, processed foods, refined carbohydrates, fried foods, preservatives, additives, and alcohol. Dairy and gluten have become harder to digest because they are overused in our food. You can find gluten and dairy as an ingredient in most processed foods. Overexposure to certain foods can lead to allergies and intolerances, which can contribute to inflammation.
#7 Low Sex Hormone
Low sex hormones can be a contributing factor due to the decrease in anti-inflammatory testosterone and estrogen. Women who are going through menopause may experience higher levels of inflammation. Likewise, men who experience low sex drive, loss of body hair, fatigue, or loss of muscle mass may have low testosterone, resulting in excessive inflammation.
Learn more about Habitat for Wellness