Because inflammation is associated with conditions like heart attack, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and autoimmune conditions like MS, Lupus and Sjogren’s, it’s important to recognize these early warning signs. If these signs are only present for a few days, the inflammation is handling a more acute situation. But if they go on longer-term, it’s imperative to find out what’s causing this reaction in your body and handle it before it can develop into something more serious. Here are the signs to watch for:
Early Warning Signs of Inflammation
- Pain and stiffness
- Swelling, with or without redness
- Low grade fever that comes and goes
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Chronic Dry Eyes
- Brain fog, difficulty concentrating or poor memory
- Loss of balance
You won’t have all the above list’s symptoms, but if you have two or more, it’s time to pay attention. Inflammation is your body’s response to some kind of irritant. This irritant could be physical damage from an injury, infection or exposure to environmental toxins. Inflammation is actually a process that kicks in when your normal ways of getting these irritants out do not quickly do the job. Let’s look at some examples:
Example 1: Inflammation From Foodborne Bacteria
When you eat a food contaminated with bacteria, your body will immediately try to excrete it – you might get diarrhea or throw up for a few hours or a day while your immune system attacks the unhealthy microbes. When the bad bacteria has been excreted, you return to normal. Situation handled!
But what if you are unable to fully handle the bacteria quickly enough? That’s when inflammation kicks in. Although the acute sickness has passed, you might develop a more sensitive stomach or your bowels might be too loose off and on. You might get odd pains periodically through your Gastro Intestinal tract or perhaps develop acid reflux. These symptoms are not violent like the original vomiting and diarrhea, but they can literally go on for YEARS all because the original irritant is not 100% gone and your body continues to rush extra circulation and fluids into the area. This is just one example of chronic inflammation.
Example 2: Inflammation From Environmental Toxins
Here’s another example: Let’s say you live in an area with poor air quality, like my city, Atlanta. Over the weeks, months and years, you breathe in these toxins, but you’re unable to get rid of them with your normal elimination. We can only pee, poop and sweat so much in a day, so those toxins begin to build up in your tissues.
You might develop a chronic cough or even asthma. You’re also at a higher risk of cancer when the air quality is poor. Or you could develop an autoimmune condition because your immune system goes into overdrive trying to deal with the toxins and your healthy tissue gets damaged in the battle. And at the root of all these illnesses? Inflammation caused by irritants your body was not able to fully eliminate.
Why Do Some People Get Sick While Others Don’t?
You could ask the question, “Why do some people become ill and others don’t?”, which is a legitimate question. This is where other factors play a role, like your diet, sleep, exercise, water consumption and even genetic strengths and weaknesses. But regardless of the factors that go into each individual’s health problems, chronic inflammation is the early warning sign that your body is in trouble.
What Can You Do About Chronic Inflammation?
Now the question is, what can be done about it? When you boil it down to the basics, it’s in with the good and out with the bad. Eliminate toxins where you can and pay attention to those all-important lifestyle habits. Do some periodic cleansing of your body regularly, through sauna or other detoxification strategies. I have put together a program called The Inflammation Reset for those who want a specific plan to accomplish a cleanse and lower their inflammation. This program is on the Shop page of our website and once you purchase it, you own it. You can work through the program once or twice a year to stay on top of the situation, regaining and maintaining your best health!
Final Reminder: Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs
Please do not ignore these early warning signs! The sooner you work on rehabilitating your vibrant health, the better it is. If you wait until the health problems are bigger, they are tougher to correct. Remember – your body is a miracle and healing is possible!
Chronic inflammation happens when the body cannot fully eliminate an irritant such as toxins, infections, poor air quality, food sensitivities, or lingering bacteria in the gut. When this happens, your immune system stays activated for weeks, months, or even years, leading to ongoing symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, or digestive issues.
If symptoms like pain, swelling, brain fog, chronic dry eyes, fatigue, or low grade fever continue for more than a few weeks, it may indicate that your body is struggling to clear an underlying irritant or irritants. Persistent symptoms are a sign to take action. Detoxification, lifestyle improvements, and targeted support can help lower inflammation before it leads to more serious health issues.
While it’s important to do a cleanse like the Inflammation Reset program, there are also natural remedies that can help reduce the symptoms. One example is Holy Basil, a powerful adaptogen known for helping reduce stress related inflammation. You can read more about its benefits in the blog: “Holy Basil Benefits That Stop Inflammation.”
