You may think of it as an emotional issue, but it also has physical repercussions.
Its something you might even overlook.
Read on to learn more about chronic inflammation and how to manage it.
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What Is Chronic Inflammation?
There are two main types of inflammation: acute and chronic.
In fact, 3 out of 5 people worldwide die of diseases linked with chronic inflammation.
But, reducing stress is an underrated way ofcombating chronic inflammation.
Experiencing stress sets off a cascade of responses in the body.
(No, stress is not just in your head.)
Your heart rate and breathing speed up, digestion gets put on the back burner and your muscles tense.
Castro explains that hormones likecortisoland adrenaline are released, triggering the fight or flight response.
As stress persists, our body’s ability to regulate these responses weakens, leading to increased inflammation.
Over time, this chronic inflammation can pave the way for various health issues and diseases, says Pace.
Some of those issues are related to the diseases we mentioned earlier.
Inflammation due to high cortisol can cause insulin resistance that can lead to higher blood sugars.
These are risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.
So, you could see how stress can lead to chronic inflammation and may increase yourrisk of chronic disease.
Yet, its easy to get stressed about your stress.
In fact, avoiding it entirely is impossible and not all in your control.
Here are some ways to incorporate self-care to reduce stress.
Prioritize Sleep
Getting enough good-quality sleep helps your body relax and repair.
Get Social
As humans, whether youre introverted or extroverted, we are social creatures.
Sometimes, one just needs to call a loved one or be in a community to relieve stress.
Social connectedness greatly impacts your healthit can help you overcome hard times, stress, anxiety and depression.
Practice Joyful Movement
The practice ofjoyful movementfocuses on finding a physical activity that you genuinely enjoy.
Physical activity can both directly and indirectly reduce inflammation by reducing stress.
Whatever form of movement you like is worth incorporating to reduce stress and support your mental and physical health!
The Bottom Line
Chronic inflammation is a hidden culprit in many chronic diseases.
While dietary changes are one way to manage inflammation, dont underestimate the role stress plays.
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