Inflames does much more than just throw flames.
Chronic inflammation has been shown to affect superheroes who might be genetically predisposed to brain- and behavioral challenges in ways that are not good for their day-to-day living.
Chronic inflammation has many causes – one of the most pressing causes when we think about ADHD is food intolerance.
Food intolerance is not an allergy – it can be triggered by eating a diet that is not much varied or when certain genetic factors come to play. Luckily we can test for these intolerances and address them.
There are several things that can trigger an inflammatory response. One of these is when tissues are injured by:
- bacteria
- trauma
- toxins
- heat
- or any other cause
Acute inflammation is beneficial
Believe it or not, this can be a good thing. This is because your body is trying to heal itself through acute inflammation. The trick is that it stops the inflammatory response afterwards. Acute inflammation begins fast and lasts for a few days to possibly a few weeks.
This type of inflammation can become severe quickly. Thankfully, acute inflammation is often easy to see or feel. For example, a person may experience pain, immobility, or swelling.
Some examples of acute inflammation
- the common cold
- the flu
- bronchitis
- headache
- hives
- joint pain
Conversely, chronic inflammation harms the body
Chronic inflammation lasts for several months to years. Exposure to a low-intensity irritant or toxin is the main culprit here. It may also be an autoimmune response to an allergen. Basically, your body’s immune system is permanently turned on and fighting against inflammation.
However, if the irritant or toxin doesn’t go away, your body will keep sending chemicals to help repair the area of inflammation. As a result, healthy cells and tissue will begin to break down.
Chronic inflammation can seem harmless on a day-to-day basis. In fact, you may not notice or think much of it unless it begins getting in the way of daily living.
Some symptoms of chronic inflammation
- bloating
- brain fog
- achy joints
- persistent fatigue
- pain
- ADHD symptoms
