Inflammation is a natural aspect of our immune system that aids in the battle against infection, viruses, and harmful bacteria, as well as the healing of injuries. Inflammation, on the other hand, can be dangerous, and it's been connected to heart disease, cancer, asthma, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. According to WebMD, when there are no intruders to fight, your body's defensive system – your immune system — triggers inflammation, as in arthritis. Your immune system reacts as if the normal tissues are infected or abnormal in many autoimmune illnesses, causing damage.

1. Why inflammation is a serious problem

Inflammation is now understood to play a function in a variety of other prevalent diseases. These disorders are linked to long-term, chronic, low-grade inflammation rather than acute inflammation that causes swelling, redness, and discomfort.

There is growing worry that inflammation, especially chronic, low-grade inflammation, may predispose people to significant and long-term repercussions following specific inflammatory triggers. Following a "trigger," some people are more likely to suffer progressive and long-term pain and dysfunction.

2. Diet and inflammation 

One source of concern is that this tendency is influenced by dietary and nutritional factors.

Anti-inflammatory food and nutrition principles can help to dramatically reduce inflammation without the need of anti-inflammatory medicines (which have the risk of potentially serious side effects). 

This entails staying away from things that can cause inflammation. Food, chemical, and environmental allergens both induce and encourage inflammation. Trans-fatty acids from partly hydrogenated vegetable oils, as well as the Omega-6 family of fatty acids (which includes corn, peanut, and safflower oils), promote inflammation. On the other side, there are dietary options that reduce and fight inflammation, such as Omega-3 and Omega-9 fatty acids, as well as antioxidants (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-carotene, and CoQ).

3. Dietary changes that help combat inflammation 

Cooking with extra virgin olive oil, eating more wild-caught cold-water fish, lowering carbs, and eating a broader variety of fresh, complete, colorful foods can all help produce a more favorable ratio of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory elements in the diet. This more balanced ratio minimizes and reduces the proclivity for strong inflammatory responses in the aftermath of a "trigger" event, as well as persistent inflammation in pain and other chronic inflammatory disorders.

4. Link between inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis 

For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, which causes inflammation, there are published nutrition and dietary recommendations. Anorexia and inadequate dietary intake have been linked to active RA. Attempting to overcome these inadequacies is a crucial element of disease management.

Diets high in fish oil or containing more eicosatetraenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid result in lower levels of cytokines and arachidonic acid metabolites, as well as fewer symptoms. Other putative dietary changes have been tested in the treatment of RA, but they have yet to be confirmed. Patients who are overweight should be encouraged to lose weight in order to avoid putting undue strain on their weight-bearing joints.

5. Tech tools for inflammation

Inflammation is frequently a factor in the persistence of pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and Naprosyn), steroids, and other medications are commonly used to relieve the pain associated with inflammatory disorders, but they can have serious side effects and hazards, especially when used for long periods of time. New therapy options, on the other hand, have arisen that can help reduce pain without the risks and side effects that come with traditional treatments.

Electricity is a potent tool that has been used in medicine for thousands of years. Electrical signal treatment (EST) differs from pain drugs in working to prevent the pain response in the inflammatory cycle. Consult a pain specialist for more detailed information about this type of pain management.