Healthy Living

Unlike acute inflammation, chronic inflammation is insidious and less visible, but therefore not harmless. In the long term, chronic inflammation can even lead to diabetes, dementia and cancer. It is therefore important to discuss an appropriate treatment method with your doctor.

How does inflammation develop?

Inflammation occurs when your body fights against infections, injuries and toxins, in an attempt to heal itself. When something damages your cells, your body releases chemicals that provoke a reaction of your immune system. During that reaction, antibodies and proteins are released, and an increased blood flow to the damaged area. This whole process usually takes a few hours or days in case of acute inflammation.

Chronic inflammation develops when this reaction persists, keeping your body in a constant state of alertness. Over time, chronic inflammation can negatively affect tissues and organs. Some studies suggest that chronic inflammation could also play a role in a whole range of conditions, from asthma to cancer.

Causes

• untreated causes of acute inflammation, such as infection or injury


• an autoimmune condition, in which your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue


• prolonged exposure to irritants, such as industrial chemicals or polluted air

In addition, experts believe that smoking, obesity and alcohol can also contribute to chronic inflammation.

Symptoms

Acute inflammation often causes obvious symptoms, such as pain, redness or swelling. But chronic inflammatory symptoms are usually more subtle. As a result, they can easily be overlooked. Common symptoms of chronic inflammation are: fatigue, fever, mouth ulcers, rash, abdominal pain and chest pain.

Symptoms that are less obvious are: balance disorders, insulin resistance, muscle weakness, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease, low back pain, dry eyes, memory problems,...

Treatment

Inflammation is a natural part of the healing process. But if she becomes chronic, it is important to get them under control to reduce the risk of long-term damage. Some of the possibilities that have been investigated to control inflammation are:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Over-the-counter NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen reduce inflammation and pain. But long-term use is linked to an increased risk of various conditions, including peptic ulcer and kidney disease.


• Steroids. Corticosteroids are a type of steroid hormones. They reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system, which is useful when the healthy tissue begins to attack. But long-term use of corticosteroids can lead to vision problems, high blood pressure and osteoporosis. When your doctor prescribes corticosteroids, he will weigh the benefits and risks.


• Supplements. Certain supplements can help to reduce inflammation such as fish oil and lipoic acid. Various spices can also help, for example, ginger, garlic and cayenne pepper.


• But the key to preventing inflammation, according to experts, lies in keeping the stress level low through regular exercise,a healthy sleep regimen and stress reduction techniques such as mindfulness and meditation.

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