Hidden Inflammation: Surprising Signs Of Illness

If you looked in a microscope and saw your cells bursting to release histamines when they became overwhelmed by antibodies, would you make a change in your diet? Many people don’t know that different people can have inflammatory reactions to different foods. If you knew the chronic inflammation from the stress you hold onto would lead to disease would you still hold on to it? Studies show, chronic stress may result in atherosclerosis in the arteries or inflammation in other organs. (1) If you knew that your constipation or diarrhea meant inflammation that would lead to cancer would you find out what was causing it? There is a lot of evidence that chronic inflammation predisposes you to cancer and the longer you have that inflammation the higher the risk. (2) Inflammation is the root of disease, but many people miss the hidden inflammation in their daily life.

Hidden Inflammation

But you say, I’m fine. I don’t have anything wrong with me. I don’t have to worry about inflammation. Don’t wait until you are really sick to address inflammation. Fine is not really fine.

If a patient comes to one of our clinics with an existing condition, they know all about inflammation. Arthritis is inflammation. Auto-immune disease is inflammation. Heart disease is inflammation. The list goes on. It’s nothing new. We have known inflammation is the cause of illness for some time.

Time Magazine ran a cover story, The Secret Killer, on inflammation back in February of 2004.

In the first paragraph the article tells us, “As scientists delve deeper into the fundamental causes of illnesses, they are starting to see links to an age-old immunological defense mechanism called inflammation — the same biological process that turns the tissue around a splinter red and causes swelling in an injured toe.” (3)

Many don’t recognize the inflammation before it turns into a medical condition. They don’t see the warning signs the body is telling them that something is wrong. Hidden inflammation is really not that hidden but we stop listening to our bodies when these symptoms become normal. Any of these sound familiar?

Symptoms like:

• Brain fog
• Difficulty losing weight
• Chronic aches and pains
• Anxiety
• Acne
• Sinus Issues
• Headaches
• Depression
• Gastrointestinal issues

Sound Familiar?

Are you experiencing any of those symptoms? Just because its common doesn’t mean it’s normal. Those same people who come to our clinics with a disease are surprised when we are able to get rid of the inflammation and the disease symptoms go away. They seem even more surprised when the aches and pains in their joints go away. Those aches and pains were inflammation they had just gotten used to.

Inflammation is a normal response! It should happen. Inflammation is a biological response of the body tissues to a harmful stimulus. So, if you have a sliver you are going to experience inflammation. The body responds to it to get rid of it. It’s a protective response! It should happen if your body has an infection or illness.

To repair and to grow, your body has to have an inflammatory response. If the harmful stimulus never goes away, you are in chronic inflammation. Your body is consistently in fight mode to get rid of the offending stimulus. If your body is in constant fight-mode, that causes a lot of harm to your immune system and your body.

Another Look at Chronic Inflammation

The inflammation is your body responding and you can help it if you pay attention to the symptoms. Go back to the list again. We will wait while you look at it.

Do you have any of the signs of inflammation? Any acne or aches? Any gastrointestinal issues or difficulty losing weight? You won’t know how to remove the harmful stimulus unless you get tested and work with a practitioner who understands inflammation. Are any of those symptoms something you can live with now? Knowing the damage they can cause would you do anything different?

Written by Dr. Patrick Flynn

Check out Dr. Patrick Flynn’s Quick Tip on Inflammation and find an Inflammation Talk near you by checking a clinic near you!