Chronic Inflammatory Disease: The Silent Killer

By Gwendolyn Everdine


There is a common affliction effecting millions of victims each and every day: chronic inflammatory disease. While some may see symptoms of its manifestation with fever, swollen joints or loss of appetite, others are virtually unaware. Chronic fatigue and pre-mature aging may also be signs of a chornic inflammatory issue. If untreated for a longer period of time, many of these symptoms will produce severe complications such as depression or muscle atrophy.

Chronic inflammatory disease is basically the sign of an immune system gone awry. The development of chronic inflammation is the result of an external or internal stressor. The immune system fights off intruders (viruses, bacteria, or other foreign elements) by causing light inflammation at the infected tissue. This is a positive thing, as it helps the body heal. The result of an out of whack immune system is that healthy cells are attacked by the body. Prolonged inflammatory conditions have damaging effects on the organs affected.

Depending on its causes and on the sites within the body where it occurs, the forms that chronic inflammatory disease can take include:

Lupus (a chronic autoimmune disorder which can affect different organs and joints);

Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation within the joints of the body that case swelling, pain and stiffness);

Irritable bowel disease (functional bowel disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain);

High cholesterol (the collection of fatty plaque lining the walls of the arteries).

Chronic inflammatory disease can also effect the brain. Patients lose physical mobility and their drive for social activity, and this will have a truly negative impact on the quality of their life. An inflammatory condition of the brain needs to be diagnosed properly so that proper treatment can be given.

Despite the improvements in health education and technologies, the number of people suffering from an inflammatory condition grows year to year. As it is the case with many diseases of modern times, there is a connection between chronic inflammatory diseases and lifestyle choices or nutritional habits.

The good news is that it's easy to correct your lifestyle choices and nutriton, so inflammatory conditions are able to be improved. One important vitamin to ensure you get enough of is vitamin D. It is important in immune function. Omega 3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory effects and they should be part of a healthy dietary plan.

Chronic inflammatory disease can be compounding in nature, so it's important to address it quickly. If you do not, you will most certainly see further degradation down the road.




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