3 Signs You Have Chronic Inflammation
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You stub your toe on the coffee table and moments later it’s red, tender, and radiating heat. Those are all signs of inflammation—but you already knew that. What you might not know is that inflammation comes in different forms. The type that makes your toe swell is called acute inflammation and is actually good for your body; it’s the healing process that makes that stubbed toe feel better a few days later.
Chronic inflammation, meanwhile, is not so good. Instead of helping your body heal, it’s linked to problems ranging from arthritis to Alzheimer’s, diabetes to hair loss. It’s a systemic situation that’s largely undetectable, unless you can convince your doctor you need a special blood test to look for it. (Looking for more health tips? Get your FREE trial of Prevention + 12 FREE gifts.)
The below symptoms aren’t necessarily grounds for a self-diagnosis of chronic inflammation, but they’ve been linked to the condition and could be a tip-off that that’s what’s going on for you. Keep in mind, though, that the research is still very preliminary, and these symptoms can be caused by a host of other factors, too.
1. You’re depressed.
Not all depression is caused by inflammation, of course. But scientists like Andrew Miller, MD, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory School of Medicine, believe inflammation can be a cause of the disease.
Related: 9 Surprising Signs You Have Depression
“If you look at patients with heart disease who are depressed, you see they have higher markers of inflammation than heart disease patients who aren’t depressed,” says Miller. And heart patients aren’t the only ones. When researchers medically induce inflammation, as with treatment for skin cancer patients or certain types of vaccinations, they’ve noted an increase in depression and fatigue.
In his own research into the phenomenon, Miller has found even minor increases in inflammation can increase the risk of depression.
The connection is also to be found in the treatment: “Interestingly enough,” says Miller, “studies have shown that exercise and omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation, can treat depression as well.”
Related: 13 Ways To Lower Blood Pressure Naturally
2. Your stomach hurts … a lot.
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It’s no surprise that something called Inflammatory Bowel Disease is caused by an inflamed bowel. And common symptoms of IBD—frequent diarrhea, pain and cramps in your abdomen, and constipation—make for an almost constant tummy ache. But researchers believe inflammation causes other stomach-churning problems as well. Celiac disease, which causes gluten intolerance, and irritable bowel syndrome, are also thought to be outward symptoms of ongoing inflammation inside your body.
Related: 7 Things Your Poop Says About You
3. You’re always tired.
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Yeah, you’re always tired because you’re working too hard, sleeping too little, and taking care of too many kids/parents/spouses/demanding dogs. But if you’re so exhausted that even thinking about these things makes you want to collapse, even on days when you’ve gotten enough sleep, well, inflammation could be to blame.
According to Mary Harrington, PhD, director of the neuroscience program at Smith College, up to 15% of the population experiences this kind of life-altering fatigue. Finding out why is one of the goals of her research. “We think that inflammation is key,” says Harrington.
Related: 5 Surprising Foods That Will Help You Sleep All Night Long
Inflammation can affect the central nervous system, which contains your brain and spinal cord. In her research, Harrington has noticed dramatic changes in how the circadian pacemaker—a tiny region of your brain that recognizes the rhythm of day and night—functions when scientists induce inflammation. “I think this could explain the sense of not being fully awake, as well as not sleeping soundly,” she says. “People who feel that way might be experiencing some type of chronic inflammation.” (Check out these 7 caffeine-free ways to boost your energy.)
Related: 8 Things That Happen When You Finally Stop Drinking Diet Soda
By Kasandra Brabaw
This article ‘3 Signs You Have Chronic Inflammation’ originally ran on Prevention.com.
