Inflammation is the body’s response to infections, autoimmune, metabolic or physical insults, including burns and physical trauma. The body’s inflammatory system consists of different types of blood cells and chemicals. Our bodies’ inflammatory system is a critical component keeping us alive and healing from different types of attacks on us. This is the “good” part.
Chronic inflammation is an entirely different process however. There are a number of diseases that produce a long-term state of inflammation (“chronic inflammation”). Most notable of these diseases are obesity and diabetes mellitus. Both of these produce a heightened state of long-term inflammation. Unfortunately, long-term inflammation is linked to a number of life-threatening/life-altering diseases including:
- High blood pressure: A cardiovascular disease linked to chronic inflammation
- Heart disease: A cardiovascular disease linked to chronic inflammation
- Kidney cancer: A type of cancer linked to chronic inflammation
- Prostate cancer: A type of cancer linked to chronic inflammation
- Ovarian cancer: A type of cancer linked to chronic inflammation
- Type 2 diabetes: A metabolic disease linked to chronic inflammation
- Pancreatic cancer: A type of cancer linked to chronic inflammation
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A lung disease linked to chronic inflammation
- Asthma: A lung disease linked to chronic inflammation
- Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune disease linked to chronic inflammation
- Inflammatory bowel disease: A gastrointestinal disease linked to chronic inflammation
- Crohn’s disease: A gastrointestinal disease linked to chronic inflammation
- Alzheimer’s disease: A neurodegenerative disease linked to chronic inflammation
- Parkinson’s disease: A neurodegenerative disease linked to chronic inflammation
How best to reduce chronic inflammation:
- Exercise Regularly: Engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Obesity is a major contributor to chronic inflammation.
- Get Enough Sleep: Sleep deprivation increases inflammatory markers.
- Manage Stress: Stress hormones can promote inflammation.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking is a potent pro-inflammatory factor. Reduce Alcohol Intake: Excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to chronic inflammation.
There are a number of supplements that claim to reduce chronic inflammation but many more studies are needed to truly prove these claims.
Stay focused on your weight control efforts and this is the very best approach to reducing chronic inflammation.
And although I cannot find any songs specifically about “inflammation”, here is a song that can reduce your stress simply by closing your eyes and listening…cortisol levels are certain to drop!
