Common Causes of Inflammation

Inflammation is a normal reaction produced by the immune system. When your body senses a threat, it kicks into gear to protect your body from an injury or disease. Without inflammation, we wouldn’t be able to heal from a cold virus or a scrape. Certain autoimmune diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis, cause your immune system to attack healthy cells, and this is an example of a situation where inflammation can be harmful. 

While inflammation is helpful in limited situations, chronic inflammation is one of the biggest causes of chronic pain, swelling and fatigue. Reducing inflammation has been shown to improve one’s overall health, and chiropractic can aid you in that goal. Our team at Motus Integrative Health offers a full range of services to help your body heal. Here are a few common causes of inflammation and how to mitigate their impacts.

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation is categorized into two types. Acute inflammation occurs for a short period, but symptoms are often more severe. This form resolves in less than two weeks and happens due to a temporary injury or illness. Chronic inflammation is less intense, but it lasts for over six weeks and doesn’t necessarily end after the injury or illness is over. Prolonged stress and autoimmune disorders are both known to generate long-term inflammation. 

Symptoms of inflammation can be very subtle and wrongly attributed to other causes: 

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• Heat
• Loss of function

As inflammation continues, the symptoms can affect the entire body. Chronic inflammation can present the following issues: 

• Body pain
• Insomnia and fatigue
• Anxiety, depression and mental health disorders
• Gastrointestinal problems, including acid reflux and constipation
• Weight gain
• Getting sick easily

What Causes Inflammation?

There are several major causes of inflammation, and it’s not always easy to pinpoint the exact reason you are experiencing inflammation. Generally, inflammation is caused by a combination of lifestyle, dietary and health-related issues:

• Chronic and Acute Conditions. Any type of injury or illness causes inflammation as part of the immune response. While most cases of inflammation resolve once your body heals, sometimes a virus can trigger chronic inflammation, while an injury may lead to chronic complications. In other cases, a person may have a chronic health condition that increases inflammation, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Certain Foods. Individuals with high inflammation levels may need to follow an antiinflammatory diet to reduce the harmful effects. Certain foods can worsen inflammation, especially in those who have an autoimmune disorder. Sugar, processed meat, alcohol, refined carbohydrates and trans fats are just a few examples of inflammatory foods. 
• Sedentary Lifestyle. We’ve all been told that exercise can improve our health. As it turns out, physical activity can help control inflammation. Regular exercise is shown to reduce inflammation and its harmful effects. 

Treat Your Inflammation Through Chiropractic Care

While inflammation is helpful in small amounts, it can do significant damage to the body when prolonged. If you have signs of inflammation or if you have a chronic health condition, plan on seeing a chiropractor for advice. Motus Integrative Health delivers exceptional care for our patients, and our treatments have been shown to help manage inflammation. Call our office today to get started.