You slam your finger in the door and soon it swells, gets hot and turns red. These are all signs of inflammation, a natural response to damaged living tissue. However, inflammation can have both positive and negative impacts for your body.
Acute inflammation is a natural response to injury and helps the body heal. On the other hand, chronic inflammation is a damaging condition that weakens your body’s natural response.
Let’s break it down:
Acute Inflammation
This is our body’s normal response to injury or pathogen invasion. This type of inflammation helps to eliminate initial causes of cell injury, removes dead cells and tissue and starts the repair process.
In this case, inflammation is a protective mechanism that stimulates healing. A natural, healthy process for your body.
Chronic Inflammation
This is a systemic condition that weakens the natural process of acute inflammation. States of chronic inflammation include weakened immune systems, elevated blood glucose, oxidative stress and adrenal fatigue.
Chronic inflammation is a condition that is hard to diagnose without a special blood test, but can be at the root of most diseases. It can link to health problem such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and hair loss.
Bloating, gas, depression, joint pain, headaches, brain fog and blurred vision are other examples of symptoms.
What Causes It?
Many factors can cause a rise of inflammation, whether it be chronic or acute. Dehydration, lack of sleep, stress and toxins may cause your body to react with inflammation. Your lifestyle choices, such as alcohol consumption or food choices, also directly impact your body’s response.
Out of these, stress can be one of the most damaging. Stress comes in many forms, including emotional, physical, mental, spiritual and systemic, which can all cause chronic inflammation.
Solutions
- Water- Staying hydrated is very important and can ease discomfort and pain
- Sleep- Sleep at least 7 hours a night. Shut off all lights, including those from your cell phone, computer and TV
- Active- Get out and enjoy nature. Go on a jog or bike ride. Research shows that “forest bathing,” or walking and being in nature, brings down our body’s antibody production and helps to manage our immune response
- Lifestyle choices- Eat healthier and decrease alcohol consumption
- Play more, breathe more, laugh more
Want to learn more about the link between stress and inflammation? Join health coach Jan Overbay for a class where we will explore how stress is one of the main causes of inflammation and what de-stressors we can incorporate to balance our life and calm our body.
To assist us with the de-stressors, we will be joining Equinemity, an equine-assisted personal development and leadership group, to teach us how horses have the ability and sensitivity to awaken heart-based moments of authenticity. Sign up today!
