Ordinarily, inflammation is our bodies’ defense mechanism in addressing wounds and physical pain. Our body responds to pathogens, damaged cells and irritants by inducing the process of inflammation which includes removal of the harmful stimuli and the subsequent healing process.
On top of being one of the body’s defense mechanism, inflammation may also occur as a result of smoking, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, stress, and prolonged exposure to the sun.
Without inflammation, our bodies will not be able to heal wounds and infections. Some people whose physiological capability to perform inflammation is restricted may develop fatal infections. While inflammation is critical to our survival, it is also a major cause of cellular degeneration which leads to aging, age-related diseases, and death.
The process of inflammation is closely associated with an increase in local blood flow, the release of free radicals, and the activation of the immune system. It often results to tissue damage and scarring. In some cases, inflammation may persist indefinitely in which case, destructive free radicals are produced in excessive amounts and tissue damage may become extensive.
Chronic inflammation causes tissues to age prematurely and particularly affects our cardiovascular and nervous systems. Chronic inflammation may directly cause age-related health conditions such as wrinkles, arthritis, fatigue symptoms, Alzheimer disease, heart disease, Parkinson disease and cancer.
People vary in terms of their level of susceptibility to chronic inflammation. Some of the tests available for determining your susceptibility for chronic inflammation includes erithrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), fibrinogen and C-reactive protein (CRP).
Some of the most effective ways of combating chronic inflammation include better dental hygiene, weight loss programs, avoidance of smoking, consumption of anti-inflammatory food, and regular exercise. Note that gum infections may aggravate heart disease and other conditions.
Meanwhile, obesity has been found to increase inflammation levels and that effective weight reduction will reverse this effect. Smoking increases the amount of free radicals in your system that in turn, induces your body to develop inflammation. Foods such as fish, fresh fruits, and vegetables are excellent in combating chronic inflammation.
Refraining from potatoes, pasta, bread, and rice is also recommended. Avoid sugar in all forms including honey and maple syrup. Foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids such as fish, olive oil, nuts, and seeds are good in combating chronic inflammation. Ginger, tumeric, ginko, astaxanthin, and other herbs are effective suppressants of low-grade inflammation. Doing regular exercise also alleviates low-grade chronic inflammation but may aggravate acute chronic inflammation and caution is advised.
