“Into Flame”
The Latin translation of the word inflammation literally means not only flame, but to become a flame. When we think of inflammation, the immediate image that comes to mind is skin that is red, swollen, and painful. It is visible. Yet there is another type of inflammation that may not be visible or even painful, but just as much a cause of concern, if not more so. This type is hidden beneath the surface and is gradual in its manifestation. It begins slowly and does not cause the immediate reaction of red, swollen, and painful skin like acute inflammation does. This is termed chronic inflammation and diagnostic testing, in addition to mindfulness, can help identify if this culprit resides within us.
Inflammation is a natural process by which the body attempts to protect itself from harmful stimuli and begin the process to heal itself. However, unlike acute inflammation where the body’s effort is rewarded and the body is healed (like a cut or a bruise), with chronic inflammation there is no reward. The reason? The harmful stimuli is continually present in the body. The healing is attempted but is thwarted by the constant onslaught of the problem. Here are a few examples:
- smoking
- eating a diet of highly processed foods
- alcohol consumption
- lack of exercise
- poor sleep habits
- excess weight
Imagine trying to build a sand castle as the tide is rolling in. No matter how fast you move that sand to protect the castle, the waves continue to advance. With each wave, what ever progress you made is washed away leaving you where you started. Inevitably, the water begins to win and you are left with a destroyed sand castle.
Our bodies react in much the same way. The harmful stimuli is the tide. The sand castle is our body. If we continually choose to eat a diet that is high in processed foods and fat, then each meal represents another wave. Over time, our body can’t keep up with repairing the damaged caused by our poor nutrition choices. This chronic inflammation can eventually cause several diseases, including some cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, and periodontitis.
The key is to recognize the signs of inflammation before the disease shows up. Knowing what to look for can help you change the way you live and avoid a health scare as so many do. The symptoms that may indicate your body is suffering from chronic inflammation include:
- ongoing, irritating pain in your joints or muscles
- worsening asthma or allergies
- high blood pressure or blood sugar
- ulcers or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- constant lethargy or exhaustion
- skin problems
If you suspect there might be a problem you can also have inflammation diagnostic testing performed. A simple test can help uncovered the truth. If you listen, your body will tell you what it needs.
What do you hear?