5 signs of inflammation you should not ignore (and what to do about it)

Stick to a healthy diet to lower inflammation. A Mediterranean diet, which is high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish, and healthy oils, can help reduce inflammation. Some anti-inflammatory foods you can add include:

• tomatoes

• olive oil

• green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards

• nuts like almonds and walnuts

• fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines

• fruits like strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges

Lifestyle choices, diet, and family history all contribute to the development of diseases and conditions linked to chronic inflammation. Preventing chronic inflammation is crucial for overall well-being. One way to reduce inflammation is to focus on a clean diet. Before we dive into that, let’s take a look at foods that may contribute to inflammation.

• refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and pastries

• French fries and other fried foods

• soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages

• red meat (burgers, steaks) and processed meat (hot dogs, sausage)

• margarine, shortening, and lard

Avoiding these foods can help you reduce inflammation to a certain extent.

The five symptoms are signs of an acute inflammation:

• Redness

• Heat

• Swelling

• Pain

• Loss of function

Symptoms of chronic inflammation are:

• body pain

• constant fatigue and insomnia

• depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders

• gastrointestinal issues, like constipation, diarrhea, and acid reflux

• unintentional weight gain or weight loss

• frequent infections

There are two major types of inflammation: acute and chronic inflammation.

Acute inflammation starts rapidly, becomes severe in a short time, and symptoms may last for a few days, and then settle down when the cause is under control.

Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is different. It is slow, long-term inflammation lasting for prolonged periods of several months to years. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks chronic diseases as the greatest threat to human health. Chronic inflammation is linked to many severe diseases such as:

• excess weight

• diabetes

• cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and stroke

• Infections like hepatitis C

• autoimmune disease

• cancer

• arthritis

• depression

• Alzheimer's

• asthma

Inflammation is the body’s immune system’s response to an irritant. The irritant could be an injury caused by a germ, a foreign object, such as a splinter in your finger, or a chemical, or radiation. It is the process by which the immune system recognizes and removes harmful and foreign stimuli and begins the healing process. It is important to understand that inflammation happens to everyone.

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or infection. But when it lingers longer than it is supposed to, it might be a hint of chronic illness. It is important to know if you have chronic inflammation because it can lead to cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and stroke, autoimmune diseases, and even cancer. Before we delve into the signs of inflammation and how to fight it, let’s try to understand what inflammation is.