Is Inflammation Bad? An Analogy

What is Inflammation?

If you prefer to watch rather than read, click here for my YouTube video about inflammation!

You typically hear about inflammation as being bad, like in the case of chronic inflammatory diseases, including arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, IBS, and cancer. Baseline inflammation, however, is a good thing. Inflammation is an indicator, as well as your body’s strategy to heal from things that irritate it. Inflammation can be of concern when it’s in excess of what your body can handle behind the scenes.

Picture Your Body as a Teacup

There is a normal, healthy level of baseline inflammation, which is your body’s natural mechanism of healing. This amount is easily contained within your teacup. When the level of irritation and, therefore, inflammation becomes too much, your teacup overflows, creating symptoms in your body and reducing your ability to deal with other stressors.

We’re all human and have predictable ways that our body tells us when we are out of balance and our weakest system is typically where it manifests. As an individual, symptoms of excess inflammation vary, depending on which system is the weakest and therefore the most susceptible.

What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Inflammation in Different Body Systems?

The most common signs of inflammation are fatigue, swelling, pain, and general malaise, but inflammation can manifest itself in any of your body systems. Here are common symptoms of inflammation in their respective systems

1. Skin

   a. Itchy skin, rashes, sores, dryness, hives or redness

2. Digestive System

   a. Constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, bloating

3. Lymphatic System

   a. Swelling, puffiness, tenderness or redness at lymph nodes

4. Immune System

   a. Fever, allergies, fatigue, frequent or extended instances of feeling sick

5. Cardiovascular System

   a. Chest pain, heart palpitations, exercise intolerance, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, weakness

6. Nervous System

   a. Nerve pain, headache, fatigue, confusion/brain fog, loss of balance, seizures, weakness, vision disturbances

7. Reproductive/Urinary System

   a. Pelvic pain, disturbance of regular menstrual cycle symptoms, increased frequency or pain when urinating

8. Respiratory System

   a. Shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing

How Can I Reduce Inflammation?

If you choose to decrease your sources of inflammation, here are some options

1. Move or exercise regularly

2. Limit toxin and inflammatory food exposure

   a. Examples of toxins are chemicals, smog, mold, and pesticides
   b. Examples of inflammatory foods are highly processed meat, gluten, dairy products, and fried foods

3. Stay hydrated

4. Eat mostly organic and anti-inflammatory foods that make you feel good

5. Refresh with adequate sleep

6. Stop and breathe through stressful times

These will help you minimize the chances that your teacup will overflow. The choices that I discuss in lifestyle medicine minimize your sources of inflammation and help you effectively respond to what does irritate you.

Why Is Sleep Important for Inflammation?

Patients often ask why sleep has such a significant effect on their headaches or their joint pain. The teacup analogy makes the connection – what fills our cup up doesn’t always have a direct link with how each of us, as an individual, overflows.

Here’s a personal example: when I’m in balance, not stressed, and it’s not spring or fall allergy season (i.e. what’s filling my cup is quite low), I could be at my mom’s house with her allergy-flaring cats and only have mild sinus congestion. If, however, I were stressed and tired and reacting to my pollen allergies in fall or spring, and I were to go to Mom’s house with my full teacup, my asthma symptoms would most likely flare in response to her fur babies. Make sense?

Each of you has a weak system that you can use as your gauge as to how authentically you are aligning with your physiology, with what your body needs. Live as your body needs and you’re less likely to experience symptoms of imbalance.

Seek professional guidance if you need help learning what your body needs.

1. Teacup analogy video

WendyLeigh White, ND is a naturopathic doctor and nutritionist in Portland, Oregon who takes a “nature cure” approach to prevention and healing. Dr White specializes in weight-neutral naturopathic care, non-diet nutritional counseling, a Health At Every Size approach, and Visionary Craniosacral Work. She earned her naturopathic medical degree and masters of nutrition from the University of Bridgeport, College of Naturopathic Medicine. Learn more about Dr White.