Signs of Chronic Inflammation: Who Is at Risk?
Question: Who has inflammation?
Answer: Everyone!
“I have yet to see a patient who ISN’T inflamed,” says Dr. Beth Bartlett. “The stress of the current climate of our world is enough to produce inflammation in the body, let alone other conditions, such as arthritis, sinusitis, bronchitis, bursitis, etc. Our ‘health’ is a culmination of the ‘food we eat, the air we breathe and the thoughts we think‘.”
Understanding Acute vs. Chronic Inflammation
Not all inflammation is bad. Acute inflammation is your body’s healthy, short-term response to sudden injury or infection (like a swollen ankle or a fever). However, chronic inflammation is a “slow-burning fire” that persists for months or years. While acute inflammation heals, chronic inflammation can eventually damage healthy tissues and organs, leading to long-term health issues.
The “Itis” Connection: What Your Body is Telling You
Many of us live with persistent symptoms without realizing they are actually signs of chronic inflammation. In the video below, Dr. Bartlett explains how your medical diagnoses can act as a roadmap to your internal health.
It’s in the ‘itis’ – Video Transcript Summary
Interviewer: Some of the things that you mentioned—the things we eat or the medication we take—we have control over. However, we don’t always have the education to know what to do. Particularly when it comes to diet, it often feels like propaganda; someone is always telling you why what you’ve been doing is totally wrong. If what we are putting in our bodies is causing inflammation, how would that show up in our lives?
Dr. Bartlett: You should look for anything that ends in “-itis.” The suffix “-itis” literally means inflammation. Think of conditions like sinusitis, prostatitis, appendicitis, conjunctivitis, or arthritis. People will often say, “I have arthritis,” but they don’t actually think of it as an inflammatory condition. In reality, that is exactly what it is: inflammation.
Beyond the Propaganda: Taking Control of Your Health
As discussed in the conversation, we often have control over our lifestyle choices, but we lack the clear education needed to navigate “nutritional propaganda.” When we put substances in our bodies that cause internal stress, our bodies speak back to us through these common signs of chronic inflammation.
True health isn’t just about treating a single symptom; it’s about addressing the culmination of our environment, diet, and mindset. If you are struggling with chronic “-itis” conditions, it’s time to look at the root cause rather than just the symptoms.
Take the next step in your wellness journey. Dr. Beth Bartlett is a functional medicine doctor dedicated to helping you cool the fire of chronic inflammation.
Contact Dr. Beth Bartlett today to schedule a consultation.
video March 2021