Fight a Silent Killer: Inflammation

The body's immune response rivals that of the most powerful armies, and one arsenal in the battle for your good health may surprise you — inflammation. When the body's immune system detects foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses or toxins, it initiates an immune response. This process involves sending immune cells to the affected area to neutralize the threat, causing a rise in inflammation. As these cells work to eliminate the invaders, the inflammation decreases, and the body begins to heal.

Chronic Inflammation

An excessive immune response can become a self-perpetuating cycle, occurring when the body fails to resolve an initial threat. Persistently sensing a foreign invader, the immune system continues to activate, leading to unchecked inflammation. This chronic inflammation can damage cells and tissues, paradoxically triggering further, distinct immune responses. 

The health of our gut microbiome plays a significant role in this process. This is partially because many foreign invaders enter our body through the digestive system and partially due to our gut housing much of our immune system as we know it. Nutrients are digested throughout the digestive tract and primarily absorbed in the intestines. A compromised gut microbiome (dysbiosis) can lead to increased intestinal permeability, often referred to as "leaky gut." This allows substances that should remain contained within the gut to enter the bloodstream, provoking a systemic inflammatory response that can affect the entire body.

The Health Dangers of Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation can increase your risk for a host of diseases. 

Here are potentially linked conditions:

• Obesity
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Atherosclerosis
• Heart attacks
• Strokes
• Certain cancers
• Irritable bowel disorder
• Alzheimer's disease

The Impact of Lifestyle

Several conditions and lifestyle choices can lead to chronic inflammation. 

Here are a few triggers that can contribute to gut dysbiosis and play a key role in this vicious cycle: 

• Persistent infections
• Exposure to toxins or irritants
• Autoimmune disorders (where the body attacks its own tissues)
• Untreated injuries
• Obesity
• Chronic stress
• Poor diet
• Lack of exercise

Dietary Choices that Harm and Help

What you eat can play a role in increasing or lowering inflammation in the body.

These nutritional choices can increase inflammation in the body and cause persistent inflammation:

• Excess calorie consumption
• Saturated fat
• Fried foods
• Processed meats
• Too many omega-6 fatty acids and not enough omega-3 fatty acids
• Refined carbohydrates and added sugars
• Alcoholic beverages of any amount

On the other hand, these dietary choices can help lower inflammation in the body and help prevent lifestyle-related diseases:

• Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines), walnuts, chia/flax seeds, fish oil supplements
• High consumption of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables
• Olive oil
• Plant-forward diet with fewer animal products
• Herbs and spices: tea, turmeric, capsaicin (in hot peppers), ginger, garlic 

Critical Lifestyle Choices

Inflammation, while a natural and healthy immune response, can turn into a destructive force if left unchecked. While diet plays a key role in reducing inflammation, it is also important to make healthy lifestyle choices. 

• Get enough sleep (between 7 and 9 hours for adults)
• Reduce stress
• Exercise daily
• Practice good oral hygiene
• Do not smoke
• Limit alcohol intake
• Maintain a healthy weight with a normal body mass index

Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation can manifest in various ways. While it isn't possible to know definitively that you are dealing with chronic inflammation, here are some signs and symptoms: 

• Persistent fatigue
• Joint pain and stiffness (particularly upon waking or after periods of rest)
• Muscle aches
• Digestive issues, including constipation, diarrhea, heartburn or bloating
• Skin problems, such as rashes or psoriasis (characterized by redness, itching and scaling)
• Frequent or persistent headaches
• Difficulty concentrating (brain fog)
• Out-of-range clinical indicators of metabolic health, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar
• Unexplained weight fluctuations
• Recurring infections
• Mood disturbances (anxiety, depression, irritability)

Help is Available

Many of the above signs and symptoms can also be related to other conditions, so it’s important to visit your primary care provider if you believe you are struggling with inflammation. You may also seek a referral to our various nutrition services for assistance and support with the essential nutrition aspect of preventing or managing chronic inflammation.

---

About Marissa Robinson, MS, RD, LDN

Marissa Robinson is a registered dietitian who loves to utilize intuitive eating principles to support people in leading happier and healthier lives. With a background in both nutrition and fitness, Robinson holds a bachelor’s degree in dietetics and a master’s degree in exercise physiology and sports nutrition from Florida State University. Robinson is also a Certified Personal Trainer and loves sharing her passion for joyful movement with all of her clients. Joining WakeMed Corporate Wellness Services in 2021, Robinson has enjoyed supporting her clients’ wellness journeys through individualized nutrition counseling and interactive classes. Outside of work, Robinson enjoys trying new restaurants, baking and snuggling her cocker spaniel, Murph.

---

About WakeMed Corporate Wellness Services

WakeMed Corporate Wellness extends beyond traditional wellness programs. We strive to cultivate healthy habits among employee populations and improve health outcomes all while increasing productivity, optimizing human resource investments and boosting employee engagement.

Our comprehensive corporate wellness services are specifically designed to meet the needs of your workplace. From biometric screenings and educational presentations to health coaching, mobile wellness services, COVID-19 vaccine clinic, and flu vaccine clinics, our team of health care professionals works closely with corporate clients to build a wellness program that best meets the needs of their employees.

Whether you have thousands of employees or just a handful, WakeMed Corporate Wellness has the solutions your employees need to be successful in their health journey. Contact us to learn more about the customized corporate wellness services we offer.

About WakeMed Nutrition Services

Our licensed, registered dietitians in Outpatient Nutrition Services are committed to providing evidence-based, scientific nutrition advice. Nutrition counseling is offered for:

• Adult Weight Management
• Bariatric Surgery
• Diabetes
• Celiac Disease and Other Food Allergies
• Heart Health
• Vegetarian Nutrition
• Pediatric Weight Management
• Other Pediatric and Adult Nutrition Issues
• Wellness
• Gastrointestinal Disorders (IBS, diverticulitis)

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call or have your physician FAX a referral to us. Insurance coverage and costs may vary.

Phone: 919-350-7000, option 1, then option 3 
FAX: 919-350-8959

 

 

Disclaimer: The advice of individual medical providers serves as guidance from the specific provider and is not intended to establish standards of clinical practice or rules of law for WakeMed Health and Hospitals.