Inflammation

I have come across many differing opinions on whether or not inflammation plays a significant role in Fibromyalgia or not.  Some research claims there is no link and then other research says that inflammation IS a big part of chronic illness.  Then of course there are my own experiences, as a result of which I would most categorically say YES! Inflammation most definitely plays a big role in Fibro.

Chronic, low-level inflammation is far more common than people realise. It is theorised that chronic inflammation is at the root of nearly every modern disease, and the number of cases of people being diagnosed with inflammation is permanently on the rise.  The good news, however, is that there are several strategies you can adopt to significantly reduce inflammation levels and help your body to heal itself.

This type of internal inflammation can heighten your risk of developing more serious illness including osteoporosis, heart disease and diabetes. 

Some of the factors that can contribute to chronic inflammation include high stress levels, poor dietary choices, lack of sleep, a sedentary lifestyle, toxic overload, smoking, alcohol or being overweight (especially extra weight around the midriff).

Symptoms that are most commonly associated with chronic inflammation include general aches, pains and stiffness, dry eyes, shortness of breath, swelling, skin outbreaks, congestion and digestive disorders.  It can also adversely affect the body by causing weight gain and obesity.

First and foremost it’s essential to look at the health of your digestive tract, as persistent imbalances are linked with the development of long-term inflammation.  Modern diets have evolved so much and the ‘hunter-gatherer’ diet of long ago has been replaced with a diet much higher in sugar, trans/saturated fat, ready meals, processed food and fast foods which place a huge strain and toxic burden on the digestive system.  

Chronic stress can impair the immune system and can lead to higher levels of cortisol (the stress hormone).  This means the body remains in a constant state of ‘fight or flight’ as it becomes more and more stressed out, resulting in higher inflammation levels.  This also affects the health of the adrenal glands and the central nervous system.

If you suffer from chronic stress then regular exercise is very important, as well as relaxation techniques such as meditation.  Getting a good night’s sleep and plenty of rest is ideal for helping your body to recover from the stresses of the day.

There are a number of treatments that can also relieve pain and inflammation including acupuncture, massage, Bowen Therapy, chiropractic or osteopathic treatment.

There are also a number of herbs that have been proven to fight inflammation, so spice meals up a bit by adding turmeric, rosemary or ginger to your daily diet.

On a short term basis, there are some over the counter medications such as ibuprofen that can help or a doctor may prescribe naproxen which is a more powerful anti inflammatory for temporary flare ups.  On a longer term basis, supplements such as fish oils, boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense) and Serrapeptase are powerful anti-inflammatories, or glucosamine/chondroitin if it’s joint inflammation you suffer from most.