{"id":548704,"date":"2026-07-29T00:43:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T00:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/548704\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T00:43:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T00:43:20","slug":"chronic-inflammation-symptoms-causes-and-how-to-reduce-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/548704\/","title":{"rendered":"Chronic Inflammation Symptoms, Causes, and How to Reduce It"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Estimated6 min read<\/p>\n

With so many foods, <\/a>cookbooks, <\/a>and supplements<\/a> being touted as \u201canti-inflammatory,\u201d it may surprise you to hear that inflammation is sometimes a good thing. It\u2019s your body\u2019s way of fighting back when you get an injury or an infection. Burn your arm on a hot sheet pan, or pick up that nasty sore throat that\u2019s going around your office, and the body may react with pain,<\/a> swelling, redness, or warmth; this protects you and fights off invaders such as viruses and bacteria. But when inflammation hangs around after an initial trigger is gone, it can have a serious impact on your overall health.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny time you\u2019re trying to fight an infection, inflammation is a tool your body needs\u2014it activates your immune system<\/a>, and that\u2019s how you get better,\u201d says Sadiya Khan, M.D.<\/a>, associate professor of medicine and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. However, sometimes that inflammatory response goes way over the top and doesn\u2019t retreat. This can happen for a variety of reasons, says Dr. Khan.<\/p>\n

Is it possible to keep the \u201cgood\u201d kind of inflammation and get rid of the problematic? And what can you do to keep chronic inflammation at bay? Here, experts explain how to control inflammatory conditions so you can live your healthiest life.<\/p>\n

When Inflammation Turns From Good to Bad<\/p>\n

The kind of \u201cgood\u201d inflammation we were just discussing is referred to as acute inflammation, and it ignites when you get a short-term injury or illness.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how it works: Once you get that scrape, burn, or illness, your body releases chemicals that act as a red alert. That causes a slew of white blood cells to flood the area of your body that\u2019s hurting. Those white blood cells do their job of neutralizing the problem, then once the job is done, they\u2019re supposed to retreat, allowing the symptoms of acute inflammation (soreness, pain, swelling, etc.) to fade away, usually within a few hours or a few days.<\/p>\n

Chronic inflammation starts the same way, as a reaction to your body being \u201cinvaded.\u201d The difference is that chronic inflammation doesn\u2019t resolve. For example, an autoimmune disorder like type 1 diabetes,<\/a> lupus,<\/a> rheumatoid arthritis,<\/a> or multiple sclerosis <\/a>can cause the body to turn on its own tissues by mistake. The tissues are then under constant assault from inflammation.<\/p>\n

Another insidious example of chronic inflammation: When plaque builds up in your arteries due to an accumulation of fat, cholesterol, and calcium, this can lead to an ischemic stroke.<\/a> But that\u2019s not the end of it. Your body views the plaque as a foreign substance and uses even more inflammation to \u201cfight\u201d it\u2014which can cause the plaque to thicken even more.<\/p>\n

\"womanAntonio Hugo Photo\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Chronic constipation can be one sign of inflammation<\/p>\n

Signs of Chronic Inflammation<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not easy to spot when inflammation turns chronic, because it looks like a lot of other conditions with a lot of other causes. Symptoms can include exhaustion, achy muscles and joints, GI problems such as constipation<\/a> or diarrhea, headaches, and weight gain.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are no specific tests to diagnose inflammation,\u201d explains Dr. Khan. \u201cYou\u2019re not trying to identify inflammation as much as look at why it’s there.\u201d She points out that the best way to do this is to have annual checkups with your healthcare provider, and to keep up on recommended screenings and blood tests.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want to get a complete profile of your health, and then treat any condition that the inflammation is related to,\u201d Dr. Khan adds.<\/p>\n

Why You Need to Address Chronic Inflammation<\/p>\n

The repercussions of chronic inflammation can be very serious: It\u2019s linked to Alzheimer\u2019s disease and other forms of dementia<\/a>, different types of cancer, anxiety and depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, allergies and asthma, acne, eczema, psoriasis<\/a>, and arthritis.<\/p>\n

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If you are diagnosed with a condition linked to inflammation, your doctor may prescribe medications to help with the symptoms of that condition, which can then stop the inflammatory response. To treat inflammation, you essentially treat the problem causing it.<\/p>\n

There are medical treatments to push back against inflammation, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, available over the counter (such as ibuprofen and naproxen) and by prescription (such as Celebrex). Then there are corticosteroids, which act like the hormone cortisol<\/a> to cut inflammation.<\/p>\n

Immunosuppressants can reduce the over-the-top response of your immune system. And a class of drugs called biologics can be helpful; they\u2019re made from living substances and work to control cells that spearhead inflammation in your body. As of now, though, there is no drug that is FDA-approved for chronic inflammation in general. \u201cFor now, the thing to focus on is working with your doctor on your specific condition and symptoms,\u201d says Dr. Khan.<\/p>\n

Lifestyle Habits to Reduce Inflammation<\/p>\n

Experts point out that changes in your everyday habits and lifestyle can help decrease low-level inflammation. \u201cControlling your weight<\/a>, eating a healthy diet, improving your sleep\u2014these things can nip so many health problems in the bud,\u201d says Erica L. Johnson, Ph.D.<\/a>, professor of microbiology, biochemistry, and immunology at Morehouse College School of Medicine in Atlanta.<\/p>\n

Here, the details on how to live an anti-inflammatory lifestyle every day:<\/p>\n

\"healthy<\/p>\n

bit245\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Best Foods to Eat<\/p>\n

The foods you have can have an enormous effect on your inflammation. Here are the basics of an anti-inflammatory diet:<\/p>\n

Limit processed food. Packaged foods like chips, cookies, hot dogs, sugary beverages, canned soups, and frozen meals can pack in excess sodium and sugar<\/a>. Try to include as many whole foods in your meals as possible. Go for nutritious whole-grain bread and rice. Refined starches can cause inflammatory responses such as weight gain, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol<\/a>. A study<\/a> from the University of California Davis found that eating too much sugar and fat can adversely affect the gut and contribute to inflammatory skin conditions, including psoriasis.Eat a wide range of colorful fruits and veggies to maximize your vitamin intake. \u201cConsuming leafy greens<\/a> and blueberries is very helpful in terms of lowering inflammation,” says Dr. Khan. Include lean protein<\/a>, such as lean poultry, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, and fat-free Greek yogurt. And eat fish twice a week\u2014it\u2019s a great source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which can slow the process of your body making the substances that cause chronic inflammation. Limit red meat, such as hamburgers and steak, to lower intake of saturated fat. Use olive oil instead of butter or margarine when you can; olive oil is rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Limit saturated fat and avoid trans fat completely\u2014read those labels!Consider working fermented foods into your diet. A study<\/a> from Stanford University School of Medicine finds that food and beverages that promote microbial diversity in the gut can reduce inflammation. Foods to try include yogurt<\/a>, kefir, fermented cottage cheese, kimchi and other fermented vegetables, vegetable brine drinks, and kombucha tea.\"coworkers<\/p>\n

FG Trade\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Best Habits to Adopt<\/p>\n

Prioritize these steps to maximize your health and combat inflammation.<\/p>\n

Get enough sleep<\/a>. The National Sleep Foundation<\/a> recommends that healthy adults get seven to nine hours a night. Make it a non-negotiable in your life.Move your body. Research has <\/a>shown that regular exercise has an anti-inflammatory effect on people with autoimmune diseases. Choose an activity you really enjoy\u2014walking<\/a>, dancing, cycling, dance\u2014and indulge in it at least three times a week. Aim for 150 minutes of weekly aerobic exercise in total.If you smoke, quit. Get help from your doctor if needed.Limit alcohol<\/a>\u200b, sticking to no more than a drink or two a day.Stress<\/a> less. Yoga and meditation<\/a> can really help. And do things that make you happy; a proactive, joyful attitude can make a huge difference in your health.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can improve inflammation, and improve your health every day as well, by staying active and addressing any underlying conditions,\u201d Dr. Johnson says. \u201cMost of the time, lifestyle remedies can really help with the conditions that cause inflammation, if you know what you’re dealing with in terms of those conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"6 min read With so many foods, cookbooks, and supplements being touted as \u201canti-inflammatory,\u201d it may surprise you…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":548705,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[232691,134,111,139,69,61885],"class_list":["post-548704","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-cupdate","tag-health","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-thrive"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/548704","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=548704"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/548704\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/548705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=548704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=548704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=548704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}