When you hear the word inflammation, what comes to your mind? Most people probably think inflammation is all about redness and swelling that follows an infection, wound, or injury. But this is only “acute inflammation” – a beneficial response by the immune system that encourages healing, and usually goes off once the injury improves. Chronic inflammation is another form of inflammation that is less obvious. While your immune system becomes activated, the inflammatory response stays on all the time at a low level. This is unlike the acute inflammatory response that is intermittent during an acute injury or infection. In other words, chronic inflammation may begin even when you have no injury. Worst still, it does not end when it should. Several factors could trigger chronic inflammation, from lifestyle factors such as poor sleep, obesity, or exposure to environmental toxins. Common symptoms of chronic inflammation Symptoms like pain, redness, or swelling are common with acute inflammation. But the symptoms of chronic inflammation are more subtle. Little wonder you tend to overlook them. These symptoms include: Body pain Fatigue Weight gain Gastrointestinal complications (constipation or diarrhea) Persistent infections Depression or anxiety These symptoms can be mild or severe and they tend to last for many months or even years. How does chronic inflammation damage the body? Chronic inflammation can cause damage to the body over time. This condition can damage your DNA and trigger heart disease, cancer, and aging. Unlike acute inflammation that that promotes healing and recovery for a better health, chronic inflammation causes a persistent increase in inflammatory proteins all throughout the body, and this can damage healthy cells, tissues, and organs, and trigger several major diseases Unfortunately, most people don’t know they are suffering from chronic inflammation until it becomes late. Many individuals got to know they have chronic inflammation after they develop an autoimmune disease, such as Type 1 diabetes, lupus, and Crohn’s disease. Chronic inflammation and aging Chronic inflammation has been shown to cause oxidative stress in the body. This has to do with an imbalance in the production of: Dangerous free radicals, molecules that cause damage to healthy tissues in the body, and antioxidants Antioxidants, substances that neutralize and clean up waste products This imbalance causes damage to your DNA as well as fatty tissues and proteins, which in turn speeds up biological aging. Chronic inflammation contributes largely to cognitive decline and mental health disorders as it boosts age-related immune system deterioration, a condition called immunosenescence. Chronic inflammation and other disease conditions Chronic inflammation is involved in a wide variety of serious physical and mental health conditions. Experts believe chronic inflammation plays a role in developing kidney disease, heart disease, cancer, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, cognitive decline, neurological disorders, and mental health illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. However, you can reduce the risk of suffering chronic inflammation by making certain behavioral changes. And treatment option is based on the underlying cause. You can consult Dr. Jason Jones at our chiropractic office in Elizabeth City, NC, to learn about natural measures to prevent chronic inflammation.