CAUSES OF INFLAMMATION

Inflammation is a natural immune response that when acute actually helps the body protect itself from an insult, such as infection and injury. 

However, CHRONIC inflammation emerges when the INSULT doesn’t go away. In this situation the immune response doesn’t turn off, and our body sets up a prolonged immune response. This may lead to tissue and organ damage, and may contribute to many very serious health problems. This kind of inflammation can last months, years, or even a lifetime. 

CAUSES of INFLAMMATION: poor diet, poor gut health- especially alterations in the gut microbiome- and increased intestinal permeability, allergens. metabolic syndrome, excess or uncompensated free radical production (AKA oxidative stress), micronutrient deficiencies, cellular debris- (such as uric acid), smoking, trauma, obesity, insomnia, being out of synch with circadian rhythms- as in night shift work or swing shifts, chronic infections, diabetes, AGEs (advanced glycation end products)- from certain cooking techniques, aging, periodontal disease- and other dental infections, sedentary lifestyle, poor blood flow with resultant lowered oxygen levels and lack of nutrients to tissues, drugs, alcohol, an abnormal histamine response- as in MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome), stress (physical and emotional), food sensitivities, loneliness, social isolation, no meaningful purpose in life, too much exercise, relationship conflicts (especially women- become more inflamed), autoimmunity, disruptions in mucosal tissues, lack of physical affection, and toxins- which would include organic toxins like pesticides, drugs (pharmaceutical and illicit) heavy metal toxins such as lead and mercury, and mycotoxins from mold. 

Genetics may also play a role.