Chronic Inflammation - The Cause of Chronic Disease and Symptoms

Too many people suffer from chronic symptoms such as poor gut health, skin disorders, pain in the body and joints, fatigue or brain fog. Even one symptom is an indicator of chronic inflammation and the root cause of all autoimmune and chronic disease.

There are two parts to resolving chronic inflammation. First it is important to measure the extent of the problem. Second, it is important to determine the root cause of the inflammation and to begin addressing it in the right way. Our bodies are designed to be healthy, and once inflammation is resolved, the body will be positioned to be able to heal itself, naturally.

The Difference Between Acute and Chronic Inflammation

We have all experienced acute inflammation at some point in our lives. Acute inflammation is a good thing, and necessary for healing injuries like a cut or foreign pathogens. It is our body’s natural immune system response designed to increase blood flow and natural antibodies so that the body can fight off and repair any tissue damage. Acute inflammation is temporary, and the body resumes its normal state when the body has healed from its injury.

On the other hand, chronic inflammation is systemic and over time can lead to organ damage and serious chronic diseases, including autoimmune disorders. Chronic inflammation is caused by the bioaccumulation of toxins and interferences over a person’s lifetime. The cause of chronic inflammation is food, toxins, and environment. If you suffer from chronic inflammation, it is important that you determine the exact cause, and begin a treatment plan to remove the root cause while mitigating external toxins from reentering the body.

How Chronic Inflammation Damages the Body

Did you know that there are over 100 known autoimmune disorders? Most of us are familiar with Hashimoto’s, Graves, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, or Fibromyalgia, however there are far more than these common disorders.

Inflammation can occur literally anywhere in the body, including the brain, thyroid, liver, skin, digestive tract, and can exist systemically. When chronic inflammation is allowed to exist long term it can cause serious chronic diseases and chronic symptoms such as migraines, digestive issues, depression, weight gain or loss, premature aging, etc. Chronic inflammation can cause autoimmune disease, cancer, heart disease and other serious chronic illnesses.

In addition to damaging organs and systems, chronic inflammation also damages the mitochondrial health of our cells. The mitochondria is responsible for producing 90% of our energy, and then they become damaged, this creates significant dysfunction.

The mitochondria are the powerhouses of our energy sources and are needed for almost every function in our bodies. Each individual cell will have between 1,000 and 10,000 mitochondria, depending on the cell type. The mitochondria is responsible for rebuilding damaged tissues and the immune system. They also play a part in removing toxins, heavy metals, parasites, and viruses. And, we need healthy mitochondria to recover from any chronic health issues.

How to Measure for Chronic Inflammation

The truth is that if you suffer from even one symptom, you likely have chronic inflammation. There are several inflammatory lab markers that will help you measure the extent of the inflammation so that you may take steps to address the issue. Keep in mind that a blood test is just the first step to measure the extent of the problem. More important is to identify the root cause of the inflammation and to begin addressing the removal of those specific toxins and interferences.

There are several inflammatory lab markers that can be used to measure chronic inflammation. Keep in mind that MD’s, and even some doctors of natural medicine, use standard clinical ranges to interpret labs and to diagnose. These ranges are much too broad, and are calculated by taking the average of all the sick people from which the labs were collected. This is the reason that so many patients present with symptoms, only to be told that their labs are “normal”.

I use optimal ranges to analyze my patient’s labs. These markers represent people with optimal health, and should be used as the gold standard.

7 Common Inflammatory Markers

Below are 7 common inflammatory markers that can be used to measure the extent of chronic inflammation in the body. Keep in mind that although there are many more inflammatory markers to be analyzed, below are several of the most critical markers, and their optimal ranges:

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

CRP is a measurement of the protein that is produced in the liver.

The optimal range is 0 to 1 mg/L.

HbA1C

Hemoglobin A1C is a measurement of blood glucose (sugar) in the body over the past 90 days. Blood sugar is a major cause of chronic inflammation and disease, and can be easily managed with the right solutions.

The optimal range is 4.0 – 4.8%.

Ferritin

A low ferritin marker can indicate an iron deficiency or anemia. While an elevated marker could indicate a liver disorder, autoimmune disease, or in some cases cancer.

The optimal range is 50 to 150ng/mL for females and 75 to 150ng/mL for males.

Platelets

Platelets are a great indication of the stickiness of the blood and chronic inflammation. This marker can indicate the body’s immune strength and clotting ability.

The optimal range is 175 – 250.

ALT

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is an important liver enzyme that when elevated may indicate the presence of chronic inflammation.

The optimal range is 10 to 26 IU/L.

AST

Aspartate transaminase (AST) is a liver enzyme that when overproduced is indicative of liver stress and inflammation.

The optimal range is 10 to 26 IU/L.

GGT

Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT) is an enzyme that exists in the kidneys, liver, and pancreas. Elevated levels are indicative of alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease and poor gallbladder health.

The optimal range is 10 to 26 IU/L.

Are You Ready to Take Control of Your Health?

If you are suffering from an autoimmune or chronic disease, your body can actually heal itself naturally. If you are tired of researching on your own or have tried one failed approach after another, it just means that you have not yet identified the root cause of your chronic inflammation.

Have you ever considered what your life might be like if you had no symptoms, and felt completely healthy? What has your health challenge kept you from doing in your life? What are some of the things that you would resume doing, or start, if you had perfect health?

I work with a limited number of Private Clients at one time for a 6 month journey. If you are ready and serious now to take complete control of your health, I invite you to book your Free Health Strategy Call right from our website.

I look forward to helping you achieve the life of your dreams!