Symptoms of Chronic Inflammation

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Inflammation is sneaky in that we often aren’t directly aware that we’re dealing with it until we’ve left it too late.

Addressing these early symptoms could be the key in avoiding more advanced stages of imbalance, like arthritis, or even worse, cancer.

Here are 10 subtle signs you may be suffering from too much inflammation in your body:

1. You’re Tired All the Time
Feeling tired or simply run down all the time may indicate that you’re suffering from too much inflammation in the body. One review published in 2018 proposed that this may be due to “an imbalance in energy availability and energy expenditure”.

They go on to explain how low-grade inflammation triggers a metabolic switch from “energy-efficient oxidative phosphorylation to fast-acting, but less efficient, aerobic glycolytic energy production; increases reactive oxygen species; and reduces insulin sensitivity. These effects result in reduced glucose availability and, thereby, reduced cellular energy.”

2. You Have Aches and Pains
One possible sneaky cause of chronic aches and pains could be persistent, low-grade inflammation. As it persists, your body’s inflammatory response can eventually start damaging healthy cells, tissues, and organs.

As a result, our bodies ramp up the pain response. This can later manifest as conditions like arthritis or chronic back pain.

3. You Experience Excess Mucus Production
If you find yourself always needing to clear your throat or blow your nose, you might be suffering from too much inflammation.

Our mucous membranes produce thick phlegm when inflamed. They do so to help protect our epithelial cells, which line the respiratory system.

As a result, you might notice more coughing and sneezing than normal, having to swallow large globs of mucus consistently over the day or suffer from a never-ending runny nose.

4. You Have Skin Problems
If you notice that your skin breaks out on the regular, or you’re dealing with chronic skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, your body could be over-inflamed.

Studies suggest that mast cells are believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (eczema) and psoriasis.

Mast cells play an essential role in the inflammatory response in the body. They’re also apart of our immune system. When the immune system becomes hypersensitive, these cells trigger certain skin conditions that are often rash-like in appearance.

5. You Have Poor Digestion
Do you suffer from gas, diarrhea, bloating or constipation? If you do, you might be struggling with a form of leaky gut syndrome, which directly inflames the body.

Leaky gut occurs when thin cracks or holes develop in the lining of the intestinal tract. This allows undigested food particles, bacterial toxins, and other pathogens to leak into the bloodstream, triggering an immune response and causing persistent inflammation throughout the body.

Common factors that cause the intestinal barrier to become “loose” include gluten sensitivity, excessive consumption of inflammatory foods, using antibiotics and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), infections like candida, SIBO or parasites, chronic stress, or lack of healthy gut bacteria.

6. You’re Struggling with Brain Fog
Brain fog is a condition where you start to experience memory problems, a lack of mental clarity and an inability to focus. It is also closely intertwined with high levels of inflammation in the body.

In a study published in Neuroimage, inflammation was shown to have a negative impact on the brain’s ability to reach and maintain an alert state.

The results showed that brain activity related to staying alert was directly affected by inflammation. Other attention processes seemed unaffected by the inflammation.

If you’ve noticed changes in the way you think and feel, high levels of inflammation in the body may just be to blame.

7. Headaches Are a Constant
Headaches, particularly migraines, often have a deep-rooted connection to higher levels of inflammation in the body.

This effect may be due to high levels of c-reactive proteins (CRP) circulating in the blood. CRPs are markers of inflammation in the body, so the higher your CRP level, the more inflammation you have (which may indicate infection or other conditions).

It should also be noted that our gut and brain are tightly interconnected, and so when our gut is inflamed from poor food choices or other factors, related issues may also be reflected in the brain.

8. Your Face and Under-Eyes Are Puffy
Facial swelling is a tell-tale sign of internal inflammation.

When your cells are in distress, they release chemicals that trigger a response from the immune system. The immune system then sends specialized cells, like mast cells and other white blood cells to trap any foreign invaders or heal tissue.

One symptom of this reaction is swelling. And it is often most apparent on our face, as it is the part of our body we pay attention to most.

9. Your Lymph Nodes Are Swollen
Swollen lymph nodes can also be a hint that something is off in the body.

The lymphatic system is part of the immune system. It consists of an extensive network of vessels that house lymphatic fluid.

The lymph nodes themselves are made up of sinuses filled with immunological cells, such as lymphocytes and macrophages, that both identify and eliminate viruses, bacteria, cell debris, cancer cells, and other foreign substances that invade our body.

You’ll often notice your lymph nodes become swollen if you get the flu or have a cold. This means that they are fighting off the infection (so it’s a good thing!).

But if your lymph nodes are chronically swollen, it could be a sign of persistent low-grade inflammation or chronic illness.

10. You Have Excess Belly Fat
Several sources point to the connection between inflammation and obesity and diabetes.

There are several lines of evidence that suggest more body fat equals higher levels of inflammation in the body. How is this possible?

Fat cells are capable of creating chemical signals that lead to elevated levels of inflammation. Studies have found that weight increases are associated with chronic inflammation, and that the relationship is linear.

This means that as a person’s weight increases, so do the levels of C-reactive proteins (inflammatory markers) in their blood.

So, the more belly fat you have, the more of these chemicals you create. Dr. Peter Libby, cardiovascular medicine expert largely agrees with this phenomenon and calls belly fat a “hotbed” of inflammation.

The good news? Shedding just a few pounds can often be enough to ease pain and prevent future inflammation.

Borrowed from LiveLoveFruit