{"id":56994,"date":"2023-02-08T10:00:59","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T15:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=56994"},"modified":"2025-02-03T15:51:07","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T20:51:07","slug":"signs-of-inflammation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/signs-of-inflammation\/","title":{"rendered":"10 signs of inflammation to watch out for"},"content":{"rendered":"

At some point in your life, you have probably experienced inflammation in your body. Maybe you fell on your knee and then it swelled up. Or you might have had an allergic reaction to a food or were exposed to poison ivy that caused your skin to become inflamed. Inflammation is often caused by an injury, infection, or disease. \u201cInflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or infection,\u201d says Dung Trinh, MD, owner and founder of Healthy Brain Clinic.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is inflammation?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Inflammation<\/span><\/a> is the immune system\u2019s\u00a0 response to injury, infection, or stress. There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Acute inflammation <\/b>is caused by trauma, injury, post-surgery, or an allergic reaction. This type of inflammation occurs quickly and is a natural part of the healing process. It \u201clasts for a short period of time either days or less than a month,\u201d says <\/span>Daniela Gamboa<\/span><\/a>, MD, the founder and clinical director of Elite Care Clinic in Irving, Texas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chronic inflammation<\/b> usually lasts longer than three months and is caused by long-standing inflammatory conditions like obesity, heart disease, an autoimmune disease, or cancer. \u201cThis type of inflammation can be caused by certain lifestyle choices such as smoking or consuming unhealthy foods or it can be triggered by autoimmune disorders or chronic infections,\u201d<\/span> Dr. Trinh <\/span><\/a>says.<\/span><\/p>\n

10 signs of inflammation<\/span><\/h2>\n

When you experience inflammation, you will often have external symptoms that are triggered by your body fighting an injury or illness\u2014or by your immune system being always \u201con\u201d in response to a disease. Some of these symptoms are common and expected, but others may be more difficult to recognize. Here are 10 signs to watch for.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Swelling, redness, or heat<\/span><\/h3>\n

Research<\/span><\/a> shows that infection and tissue injury are the leading causes of inflammation.<\/span> Trauma such as fractures, sprains\/strains, and tears also cause inflammation in response to the damage done to the body. Common symptoms of these injuries are swelling, redness, and heat in the affected part as blood vessels dilate and blood flow increases to send white blood cells to the area.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Joint pain or stiffness<\/span><\/h3>\n

Joint pain, tenderness, warmth, or stiffness often signals chronic inflammation. This can be caused by autoimmune conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Loss of function<\/span><\/h3>\n

Inflammation can cause loss of function due to chronic pain or muscle weakness. For example, if your joints are inflamed, you might not have your normal range of motion or it may be painful to exert yourself. Or, if you have asthma and you are experiencing inflammation, you might have difficulty breathing.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Abdominal pain or chest pain<\/span><\/h3>\n

Myocarditis is when your heart muscle becomes inflamed. This is usually caused by a virus. The inflammation of the heart can cause the heart\u2019s electrical system to not function properly, which in turn affects the ability of the heart to effectively pump out blood to other parts of your body.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Fatigue<\/span><\/h3>\n

Feeling tired<\/span><\/a> is often associated with diseases that have chronic inflammation like fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. When you experience chronic inflammation, your body\u2019s immune system is always \u201con\u201d and this uses up a lot of energy causing you to feel wiped out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Fever<\/span><\/h3>\n

Bacterial, viral, and fungal infections can cause inflammation in the body as your immune system tries to fight off the infection. Fever (a temperature greater than 100.4 degrees F) is a common symptom of these types of illnesses. Though unpleasant, your <\/span>elevated temperature<\/span><\/a> helps the immune system work better and hinders replication of the bacteria, viruses, or fungi.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Skin rash<\/span><\/h3>\n

Allergic reactions to food, animals, and environmental irritants can cause inflammation in the body as your immune system responds to perceived threats. One way your body reacts to these stressors is with a skin rash. Additionally, chronic conditions such as <\/span>psoriasis<\/span><\/a> and eczema can present as a skin rash, while creating systemic inflammation.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Insulin resistance<\/span><\/h3>\n

Inflammation<\/span><\/a> in the body can affect how well your body responds to insulin. Eating inflammatory foods, such as alcohol, refined carbohydrates, trans-fats, and fatty or processed foods contribute to weight gain, increasing inflammation and triggering insulin resistance.<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Diarrhea<\/span><\/h3>\n

Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of <\/span>inflammatory bowel disease<\/span><\/a> (IBD) which is either ulcerative colitis or Crohn\u2019s disease. When you have either type of IBD, the immune system overreacts causing inflammation in your colon, bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Mental fogginess\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Brain fog is when you experience memory issues and have difficulty concentrating or focusing. Inflammation can affect your brain\u2019s chemistry and cause mental fogginess. Additionally, <\/span>research<\/span><\/a> shows that an inflammatory diet is linked with an increased risk of dementia. Foods that cause inflammation like processed foods or unhealthy fats speed up the brain\u2019s aging process\u2014and may be linked to the development of conditions like Alzheimer\u2019s disease. <\/span>\u00a0\u201cSome of the worst eating habits may cause inflammation and ultimately age you faster or leave you at a higher risk for diseases later on in life,\u201d says <\/span>Mahmud Kara, MD<\/span><\/a>, an internal medicine practitioner and founder\/CEO of <\/span>Kara MD<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What causes inflammation?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The causes of acute inflammation include:<\/span><\/p>\n