What exactly is inflammation within the body?

Inflammation refers to your body’s process to combat anything that may harm it, such as infections, injuries, and toxins. When “invaders” damage your cells, your body releases chemicals that trigger a response from the immune system, which can result in inflammation. Habits that include poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol, and drug abuse put your body on “high alert” to protect itself, and in the process may cause chronic inflammation.

Ancillary Causes Include:

• Infection
• Injury
• Autoimmune disorder
• Long-term exposure to irritants such as chemicals or polluted air.
• Stress – Prolonged stress leads to hyper physiological levels of cortisol. This alters the effectiveness of cortisol to regulate both the inflammatory and immune response because it decreases tissue sensitivity to cortisol. As the human body heals, inflammation becomes a response to stress. Cortisol, increases sugars (glucose) within the bloodstream, enhances your brain’s use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues? Say no to stress! If anything, discover an outlet that takes you back to balance. (Ask Dr. Gamboa how!)

Is there reason for concern?

5 signs of inflammation

• The sensation of heat in the body
• Redness
• Swelling
• Pain
• Loss of Function

The bottom line is, avoid inflammation as best you can. Research has shown that chronic inflammation is associated with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The less inflammation we have, the more optimally we will thrive.

There are some things within our grasp such as consuming the right foods, limiting our alcohol intake, saying no to drugs, tobacco, and toxic addictions & habits. Recent research suggests that alcohol causes inflammation in the intestines and impairs the body’s ability to regulate that inflammation. In turn, inflammation worsens alcohol-related organ damage. Ultimately, excessive drinking can have serious implications for long-term health.

Consume Anti-inflammatory Foods

• Tomatoes
• Olive Oil
• Green leafy veggies like spinach, kale and collards
• Almonds & Walnuts
• Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines
• Fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries and oranges

Cook with Anti-inflammatory Spices

(Be adventurous in the kitchen, your food will be more delicious!)

• Turmeric
• Ginger
• Cinnamon
• Garlic
• Cayenne
• Black pepper
• Cloves

Stay Active

In general, physical inactivity leads to visceral fat accumulation-induced chronic inflammation.
It is commonly accompanied by fatigue and sleep deprivation. Do you see the connection?

Loss of sleep

A loss of sleep, even for a few short hours during the night, can prompt one’s immune system to turn against healthy tissue and organs. Losing sleep for even part of one night can trigger the key cellular pathway that produces tissue-damaging inflammation according to new research.

8 Common Diseases Caused by Chronic Inflammation:

• All Cancer Stages
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Autoimmune Disorders
• Metabolic Disorders such as Type II Diabetes, fatty liver disease and renal failure
• Bone & Joint Disease such as Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and others
• Pulmonary Disease
• Diabetic Complications
• Neurological Diseases

5 Tips to Reducing Inflammation

1. Consume a healthy diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods
2. Manage your blood sugar
3. Stay active – exercise
4. Lose weight
5. Manage stress

If you are experiencing inflammation in your body, don’t hesitate – call our office today and schedule a consult with Dr. Gamboa.