Occasional inflammation is a normal and healthy part of your body’s healing process. However, when it becomes a chronic occurrence, inflammation can do more harm than good.
Keep reading to learn more about the role of inflammation in the healing process, how to know when it has crossed the line from helpful to hurtful, and how chiropractic care and cryotherapy can help you find relief.
Your Body’s Healing Mechanism
Inflammation is the body’s naturally occurring response to tissue damage, whether due to illness, injury, or invaders like germs or toxins. When tissue damage occurs, the immune system sends out inflammatory cells, which work to trap germs or toxins and heal injured tissue.
Symptoms may include swelling, heat, localized pain and tenderness, and flushed skin. For example, an infection like strep can cause inflammation in the throat, while a sprained ankle can cause redness and swelling.
While occasional inflammation is normal, it’s not always comfortable. However, these mild symptoms aren’t a reason to worry — they indicate that the body is beginning to heal and shouldn’t persist for longer than a few days.
Acute inflammation doesn’t always require treatment. If needed, treatment may include getting plenty of rest, icing the affected area, practicing proper wound care, and taking over-the-counter NSAID medications.
How Much is Too Much?
Inflammation becomes a problem when it’s chronic, causing the body to send inflammatory cells even when there’s no danger. Causes include:
- Chronic stress
- Obesity or low levels of physical activity
- An unbalanced gut microbiome
- Eating certain foods, such as those high in salt or trans fat, fried foods, or refined carbohydrates
- Sleep disruptions
- Tobacco use and alcohol overindulgence
- Exposure to environmental toxins such as air pollution and hazardous waste
Chronic inflammation is also associated with many health conditions, including autoimmune, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases, along with certain types of cancer and mental health conditions.
The symptoms of chronic inflammation are typically more difficult to pinpoint. It can cause belly and chest pain, insomnia, fatigue, joint stiffness, mouth sores, fever, skin rashes, mood disorders, GI issues, weight fluctuations, and frequent infections. These symptoms may come and go, lasting for months or even years.
Finding Relief from Chronic Inflammation
If you have a minor injury that won’t heal or ongoing pain or stiffness in any part of your body, it’s a good indication that you may have chronic inflammation. There are plenty of treatment options out there, from taking supplements like zinc and omega-3 to corticosteroid injections to anti-inflammatory diets.
However, when it comes to supporting the body’s natural healing processes and ensuring proper overall function, there are two treatments you may not have considered: chiropractic care and cryotherapy. These two treatments, whether in combination or by themselves, can be important components of treatment and help you find long-lasting relief.
The Role of Chiropractic Care
The goal of chiropractic care is to correct misalignments in the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine. By ensuring proper alignment and reducing nervous system interference, chiropractic care promotes proper nerve function, allowing effective communication throughout the body and alleviating inflammation.
Many chiropractors also utilize massage therapy, which can reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and further enhance the healing processes, which can help you find relief from chronic inflammation. Additionally, chiropractors often give lifestyle guidance, provide nutritional support, and present preventative strategies for managing inflammation, contributing to all-around wellness.
The Role of Cryotherapy
You’ve probably held an ice pack to a bruised shin or a sprained wrist to calm the inflamed area. In fact, cold therapy has been used for thousands of years to speed up recovery and enhance healing.
Whole-body cryotherapy takes this principle to the next level and involves using liquid nitrogen to cool the air within a chamber to -200 degrees Fahrenheit, where it quickly cools the skin. While this may seem unpleasant, it’s actually much more comfortable than cold water immersion, as the air is dry. Plus, it only takes between 2.5 and 3.5 minutes — much better than sitting in an ice bath for 15 minutes.
The benefits of cryotherapy go beyond calming inflammation. It can also increase energy levels, boost the immune system, speed up recovery after exercise, and improve metabolism.
Whole-Body Health and Wellness
At the Health and Wellness Clinic, we are dedicated to improving your quality of life and helping you live without pain or discomfort. Whether you’re battling an inflammatory condition, recovering from an injury, or looking to improve your athletic performance, contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward improving your overall health.