What is Inflammation?
Inflammation is the process by which the immune system identifies and removes harmful foreign stimuli and begins a healing process. Acute inflammation starts rapidly and becomes severe in a short time. By design, inflammation is a finite process with resolution once the threat disappears. Symptoms may last for a few days for example, if you get a fever.
Chronic inflammation however is a slow, un-resolved long-term inflammation lasting from several months to many years and is caused by persistent inflammatory stimuli. The diagram shows the many different triggers that play into chronic inflammation. These triggers can drive a complex interaction of mechanisms and continuing loops which then co-activate with inflammation, making the situation worse.
How does chronic Inflammation cause Autoimmunity?
Inflammation can cause damage to tissues and cells in the body, this is called Damage Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs). DAMPs are danger molecules that are released from damaged or dying cells and activate the immune system. Persistent inflammation and tissue damage can cause the DAMPs to not be cleared.
New antigen epitopes may develop due to continual tissue damage. Antigen epitopes are alterations in 'self tissue' proteins. A vicious cycle then occurs: newly created antigen epitopes activate more lymphocytes (immune cells), leading to more tissue damage. This creates an inflammatory environment where multiple immune cells start to produce cytokines and amplify the inflammatory loop. Therefore, Autoimmune tissue destruction is driven by inflammation and inflammatory tissue destruction of the Autoimmune process drives systemic inflammation. A loop!
It is important in any Autoimmune management, to firstly identify the drivers of inflammation as anyone who is chronically inflamed long enough may also develop GI dysfunction, disordered stress chemistry and Autoimmunity and visa versa. Furthermore, inflammation may:
prevent your gastro-intestinal (GI) system from absorbing nutrients
prevent your brain from responding to neurological rehabilitation or neurotransmitter therapies
prevent your livers and kidneys from detoxifying properly
prevent lungs, intestines and sinuses from healing mucosal linings
prevent your endocrine system from signalling properly
prevent cognitive abilities since body inflammation can cause brain inflammation and visa versa!
Drivers of persistent inflammation
Insomnia - studies show that sleep deprivation results in elevation of several proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α.
Vascular & Oxygen defects - anything that reduces oxygen to tissues i.e. hypoxia. Examples are: asthma, anaemia, circulatory issues.
Hormones - almost any stage of inflammatory response is affected by hormone actions and imbalance. Examples are: melatonin, cortisol, thyroid, oestrogen, insulin, testosterone.
Food Reactions - imply there is intestinal permeability, oral in-tolerance and GI inflammation.
Excessive exercise - excessive exercise can promote IL6 inflammatory cytokines.
Infection - many infections whether viral, bacterial or fungal can cause inflammation.
Environmental factors - pollution, pollen reactions, toxic chemicals, metals, pesticides etc
Dysglycemia - blood sugar levels that go too low or too high.
Detoxification defects - genetic defects in detoxification processes or liver dysregulation.
An experienced health practitioner using functional medicine principles can help you to identify your inflammation drivers through detailed history taking and lab testing.
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