The Invisible Enemy: How Inflammation Sabotages Our Health
Imagine a silent saboteur lurking within your body, slowly eroding your health from within. This invisible enemy is inflammation, a complex biological process that, when unchecked, can fuel a wide range of chronic diseases.
Inflammation is a word we often hear, but do we truly understand its impact on our health? According to Francesca Gunn, MSN, ANP, WHNP-C, IFM-CP, a Functional Medicine provider at OnePeak Medical in Ashland, Oregon, “Inflammation is the root cause of all disease. From Alzheimer’s and cancer to heart disease, chronic illnesses are often fueled and perpetuated by this underlying inflammatory process.”
Meet Kara, a busy business owner and mom who, despite her best efforts, felt increasingly fatigued, frequently got sick, had chronic headaches, and was gaining weight. After years of feeling that something wasn’t right in her body, she made an appointment to see Francesca.
During her initial appointment, Francesca discovered that Kara’s lifestyle, while mostly healthy, was subtly contributing to chronic inflammation. Like many high-achieving people today, Kara was unaware of the silent toll of stress, a demanding job, being a mom, and a diet of processed foods.
“Stress, poor diet, and even certain viral infections can disrupt the delicate balance of the immune system,” explained Francesca. “This can lead to a state of chronic inflammation, where the body is constantly in a state of alert, even when there’s no immediate threat.”
According to Francesca, inflammation can manifest in various ways.
Insulin Resistance and Diabetes: High blood sugar and insulin levels cause inflammation within the body.
Dysregulated Cell Growth: Cancer often stems from abnormal cell reproduction. A healthy immune system identifies and eliminates abnormal cells from the body, but chronic inflammation overwhelms the immune system, allowing cancer to develop.
Immune System Dysfunction: When the immune system is compromised due to triggers such as poor diet, chronic stress, or viral infections such as Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), it can mistake healthy tissue as a threat, leading to autoimmune diseases.
Cardiovascular Disease: Inflammation within blood vessels triggers the body to “heal” itself by forming plaque, which hardens and stiffens the vessels, hindering blood flow and increasing blood pressure.
Gastrointestinal Disorders: A healthy gut is critical to a healthy immune system. However, the good flora in the gut gets killed by stressful events, which can lead to a variety of issues such as painful gas, diarrhea, bloating, and indigestion.
The great news is that chronic inflammation can be reversed. Francesca suggests the following strategies:
- Eat whole foods. Prioritize whole, minimally processed foods, focusing on colorful fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Minimize processed foods, sugary drinks, and refined carbohydrates. If it comes in a can, box, or bag, like chips, limit or avoid eating it.
- Manage stress levels. Life today is hectic and stressful, and we often find ourselves running from one activity to the next, resting only when we fall onto our beds at night. Incorporate mindfulness practices like meditation and deep breathing to help calm the nervous system. Over time, we can change how we react to stress and what a stressful event does to our body.
- Maintain regular exercise. Regular physical activity is critical to health on so many levels. Francesca suggests prioritizing outside activity around greenery, as it calms the nervous system, which supports the immune system.
- Use supplements. Supplements are an excellent way to get vitamins and nutrients that are lacking in the body. Some of Francesca’s favorites include methylated B-complex, fish oil, and Co-Q10 to support overall health and reduce inflammation.
- Avoid alcohol. Alcohol dysregulates the immune system. No level is positive for our bodies.
- Weight Train. Muscles are the organs of longevity; the more muscle that is built, the healthier we become. Francesca suggests resistance training, starting low and slow with exercises such as squats and bicep curls. She also recommends using physical trainers to ensure the exercises are correctly performed. Bonus tip: weight training is essential for women as they age because it helps mitigate symptoms of menopause and can help prevent bone loss (osteoporosis).
- Detoxify. Francesca suggests starting the day with some freshly squeezed lemon in a cup of warm water – even before coffee! She also recommends dry brushing before showering. Both assist the liver and other organs in eliminating toxins.
After seeing Francesca and implementing the recommendations she provided, Kara began to notice significant improvements. Her energy levels increased, her headaches subsided, and she began to lose weight. Her body could now fight off all the bugs her kids brought home from school!
While Kara’s story is not uncommon and one that functional medicine providers like Francesca Gunn see at OnePeak Medical every day, it is nonetheless an essential lesson for everyone. By working with a qualified healthcare provider and making conscious lifestyle choices, we can take steps to reduce inflammation within the body, support our immune system, and live healthier and happier lives.
You can book an appointment with Francesca Gunn or any other providers in our 15 clinics throughout Oregon online here.