Chronic Inflammation: Lifestyle and Dietary Changes for Optimal Health

Chronic inflammation has been related to conditions like diabetes, cancer, and arthritis. Besides this, there are a myriad of serious disorders that chronic inflammation can raise your risk of. However, changes in lifestyle and diet can be made to address the inflammation, and daily routines can help take control of it. An anti-inflammatory diet, exercise, taking supplements, managing stress levels, and medication can all help lower your chance of developing/reducing chronic inflammation.

Let's learn about how you can reduce inflammation and how health insurance can provide you coverage for the same. But first, let's begin with what is chronic inflammatory disease, its symptoms, causes, and what dietary changes you can make to tackle this problem.  

Understanding Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation refers to your body’s natural way of countering against harmful elements like infections, injuries, and toxins. Your body starts releasing certain chemicals when a foreign substance harms or damages your cells. This prompts and triggers your immune system to react and start responding against it. 

This response further releases antibodies, proteins, and an increased blood flow to the damaged area. When there is acute inflammation (getting a cold/cut on your knee), the healing process usually takes a few hours or days.

However, chronic inflammation is the opposite. It takes place when this response keeps lingering and keeps your body in constant alert mode. 

What is Chronic Inflammatory Disease? 

With time, chronic inflammation starts causing harm to your organs and tissues. According to studies, chronic inflammation may also contribute to a number of serious medical issues ranging from strokes to cancer. 

When you live with chronic inflammation and are unaware of it, your body's inflammatory reaction may eventually begin to harm your healthy cells and also lead to internal scarring, tissue death, and DNA damage. 

Besides this, different types of chronic inflammation are linked to the development of a myriad of serious diseases including:

1. Type 2 diabetes 
2. Heart Disease 
3. Obesity 
4. Cancer 
5. Rheumatoid arthritis 
6. Asthma 
7. Cognitive decline and dementia (in older adults). 

Chronic Inflammation Symptoms

Unlike acute inflammation, which is usually visible (redness, pain, swelling), chronic inflammation is more subtle. It can be challenging to get hold of the condition initially. This is what causes the inflammation to take its toll on an individual’s health drastically. However, some of the common and initial signs to check whether or not you have chronic inflammation include:

1. Body pain 
2. Weight gain 
3. Weight loss 
4. Fatigue 
5. Anxiety or depression 
6. Persistent infections 
7. Gastrointestinal problems (constipation or diarrhoea). 

Note that these chronic inflammation symptoms can differ from person to person in terms of intensity, depth, and time. It can range from mild to severe, and sometimes the signs can last for several years, yet wouldn't be noticeable. 

Hence, it is crucial to identify these symptoms and get advice from your healthcare provider at the earliest to avoid long-term chronic inflammation. 

Causes of Chronic Inflammation 

There are a range of factors that can cause and elevate chronic inflammation. However, it varies from person to person. The causes listed below may not be the reason for chronic inflammation in some individuals. In fact, in some cases, the causes are entirely unknown and don't identify any underlying cause. That said, below are some of the causes of chronic inflammation that are commonly identified: 

• Any autoimmune disorder 
• Untreated acute inflammation (infection/injury) 
• Alcohol addiction 
• Smoking 
• Lack of sleep
• Chronic stress 
• Obesity 

Chronic Inflammation Test

Generally, there are no such tests that diagnose inflammation. Most people are sometimes unaware of the fact that they might have chronic inflammation. However, certain blood tests are helpful to get a sign. This includes tests that highlight CRP (C-reactive protein), infections/inflammations, or hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) that inflames the heart. 

Chronic Inflammation Treatment 

Usually, inflammation is a part of the natural healing process. However, when it is chronic, it is important you treat it soon to avoid long-term illness. Among these, one major chronic inflammation treatment approach includes making changes in your diet and lifestyle. 

Lifestyle Changes 

Below are some of the ways by which you can manage your chronic inflammation through lifestyle habits: 

1. Losing weight 
2. Engaging in more physical activity, yoga, and aerobics
3. Supplements like curcumin and lipoic acid can help reduce inflammation
4. Avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and smoking 
5. Taking enough sleep (6-7 hours) 
6. Medications, NSAIDs (nonNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen are linked to reducing pain and inflammation. However, prolonged use can cause adverse health conditions
7. Steroids like corticosteroids help reduce inflammation. However, excess of anything is risky. It is important to discuss the use of steroids with your doctor to weigh the risks and effects associated with corticosteroids. Longer use can cause high BP, osteoporosis, and vision problems.

Dietary Changes 

Given below are some of the ways by which you can manage your chronic inflammation through dietary habits: 

1. Consume a low-glycemic diet 
2. Reduce the intake of saturated fat 
3. Start consuming more anti-inflammatory food. This includes whole, nutrient-dense foods that contain antioxidants like green vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, bell peppers, cauliflower, sprouts ), coloured fruits (grapes, blueberries, cherries, pomegranates), avocados, olives, healthy fats (olive oil, avocado oil), fish (herring, salmon, mackerel), turmeric, fenugreek, green tea, cinnamon, almonds. However, it should be consumed in moderation as prescribed by your doctor 
4. Increase the amount of micronutrients, water, and fibre that you consume 
5. Start with Mediterranean diets like IL-6 or IL-17A
6. Low-carb diets and vegetarian diets help control and reduce inflammation. 

Importance of Health Insurance 

Considering the long-term risks of chronic inflammation and the diseases that come with it, it is evident that the treatment can cost you a fortune. Moreover, the rising medical costs make it necessary to have a health insurance plan. If you’re still wondering how healthcare insurance helps you with chronic inflammation, here’s how: 

Cover Medical Expenses

Studies show that in India, about 68% of people do not have adequate health insurance coverage. People in these circumstances use their savings to treat illnesses and pay for their medical care. Usually, extended medical treatments cause them to completely deplete their savings.

Furthermore, some people either sell their assets or take out hefty loans to cover the bills. Hence, it is wise to get a health insurance plan that will assist you in protecting both your health and finances. 

Rising Healthcare Costs

In case your chronic inflammation takes a turn for the worse and starts causing other health concerns, it is imperative that you get the best treatment possible. However, it is expensive to get treatment in a top-tier healthcare facility. 

The rise in costs per person brought on by medical inflation is known as the medical trend rate. It is anticipated that this rate will increase in India at a rate twice as fast as inflation. All of this makes it a necessity to buy healthcare insurance. 

Treatment Expenses go Beyond Surgery

Hospital care involves more than just surgery. Prescription drugs, doctor visits, and medical checkups can cost more than the actual cost of being admitted to the hospital. In addition, there are expensive diagnostic testing and post-operative care options like having a medical attendant at home. Health insurance coverage by Care Health Insurance cover numerous conditions and surgeries. 

Over To You

Chronic inflammation can have a significant impact on health, assets, and finances. The only solution is to get a chronic inflammation treatment. Such treatments can include a lot of associated costs, which can make the entire treatment very expensive. This makes it important to have a health cover that addresses this need.  However, the cost of coverage for those with chronic diseases/ diseases caused by chronic inflammation must be taken into account by insurance companies. This can lead to increased premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses. 

Furthermore, certain therapies or treatments may not be covered by all insurance policies. Before getting a health insurance plan, make sure you check in with your insurance provider to make better decisions. 

>> Also Read: Chronic Illnesses in Children

Disclaimers: The above information is for reference purposes only. Kindly consult your general physician for verified medical advice. The health insurance benefits are subject to policy terms and conditions. Refer to your policy documents for more information.