Читать книгу Anti-Inflammatory Diet For Dummies - Artemis Morris - Страница 17

Inflammation may be acute or chronic. The biggest difference between the two is time:

 Acute: Acute inflammation occurs almost immediately after tissue damage and lasts for a short time, from a few seconds to several days. It’s what causes bruising and swelling when you fall or sprain something.

 Chronic: Although usually not as painful as acute inflammation, chronic inflammation lasts much longer, sometimes for several months. Chronic inflammation can be caused by physical factors (viruses, bacteria, blood sugar imbalances, extreme heat or cold, toxins) or emotional factors (chronic daily stress). Over time, chronic inflammation can contribute to chronic disease by throwing off the body’s immune system and creating a lot more inflammation in the process.

Some researchers describe inflammation as high-grade or low-grade, depending on the severity of inflammation and the levels of inflammatory markers such as high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen, globulins (like IgG and IgA), and proinflammatory cytokines. Low-grade inflammation often leads to chronic disease, such as atherosclerosis (hardened arteries), diabetes, cancer, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure, and lupus.

Other diseases associated with long-term inflammation include allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), kidney disease, neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive decline, and mental illness like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many of the factors leading to low-grade inflammation are lifestyle-related: smoking, stress, obesity, inactivity, and diet. Diet is a powerful and delicious way to decrease the risk of inflammation wreaking havoc on your body.

Low-grade inflammation often goes undetected, but here are common symptoms:

 Chronic fatigue and difficulty sleeping

 Chronic low-grade fever and flu-like symptoms

 Depression, anxiety, and mood disorders and memory problems

 Dry eyes and skin

 Frequent infections

 Gastrointestinal issues, like indigestion, diarrhea, chronic constipation, or irritable bowel syndrome symptoms

 Hormone and endocrine issues

 Muscle stiffness, body aches and pains

 Respiratory symptoms like nasal congestion, itchy eyes, chronic sinus infections, chronic cough, and shortness of breath

 Skin rashes, chronic itching, and mouth sores

 Weight gain or weight loss

One of the first and best ways to determine whether you’re experiencing low-grade inflammation is to have some bloodwork done. A healthcare professional can test your highly sensitive-CRP (hs-CRP) levels, along with other specific tests for inflammatory markers and cytokines, such as lipoprotein A2 (LPA2) and immunoglobulins (IgA). According to the American Heart Association, an hs-CRP test can help determine a person’s risk for heart disease, stroke, and other cardiac issues.