Hello all!

There is a lot of buzz going around about inflammation: what causes it, what diseases and conditions it can lead to and its effects on the body. So let’s talk about it!

Did you know that inflammation actually starts in your gut? Or how about that 80% of your immune system is in your gut? So it makes sense that inflammation is actually an immune response.

A little physiology lesson for today…

Your gut is made up of a semi-permeable lining and its amount of permeability actually fluctuates in response to an assortment of chemically mediated conditions. For example, increased stress or changes in your thyroid hormone levels causes your intestinal lining to be more permeable. When the lining becomes more permeable partially undigested food, toxins, viruses, yeast, and bacteria have the chance to pass through the intestine and enter the bloodstream, which is known as leaky gut syndrome.

When the intestinal lining is repeatedly damaged due to leaky gut syndrome, digestion is eventually impaired and absorption of nutrients is negatively affected. As more exposure occurs, your body initiates an attack on these foreign invaders. It responds with inflammation, allergic reactions, and other symptoms we relate to a variety of diseases.

Since your immune system can work too hard, these inflammatory triggers are cycled continuously through your blood where they affect nerves, organs, connective tissues, joints, and muscles. Is it easy to see and understand how some diseases and conditions can develop?

There are many diseases that are caused by inflammation. Just to name a few…

• Allergies and Asthma
• Fibromyalgia
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Autism
• Crohn’s Disease
• Rheumatoid Arthritis

Check out this chart to see how inflammation can affect your body!

The usual treatment to inflammation is to generally suppress the immune system with immune suppressive agents or sometimes steroids, which are designed to reduce inflammation but neither resolves the underlying cause. Inflammation is an essential process for normal repairs of the body to occur. It becomes a problem when the regulation of inflammation is not controlled and then we have an increased risk of disease occurring.

The inflammatory process that takes place by any inflammatory trigger (diet, medications, infections, stress, hormonal, neurological, or metabolic) can break down intestinal permeability and allows for leaky gut syndrome to occur, and thus can lead to acute and chronic diseases.

You can start making changes today to naturally decrease your inflammation and start feeling like your old self!

1. Take Probiotics to help support a healthy gut
2. Eat a clean and healthy diet
3. Exercise
4. Decrease stress
5. Get more sleep

It’s never too late to start making a positive change to your health!

Dr. Jess

 

Dr. Jessica Stensland is a busy family wellness Chiropractor in Urbandale, Iowa. She spends her weeks taking care of dozens of families.  Not only does Dr. Jessica specialize in pediatric and pregnancy chiropractic care, but she’s a board certified Acupuncturist.  Dr. Jessica believes that a healthier community means taking care of all ages.   She is a Minnesota native and enjoys seeing family and friends in her free time, in addition to staying active and reading the many books she has on her kindle.