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A SMART WOMAN'S GUIDE TO HORMONE BALANCE
SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER AND GET YOUR FREE GIFT:
A SMART WOMAN'S GUIDE TO HORMONE BALANCE
When you hear the word “inflammation,” what comes to mind? Do you associate it with the body’s natural defense mechanism—responding to injury, infection, or illness? Or do you think of it as something negative, like constant pain, acne flare-ups, or persistent bloating?
The truth is that inflammation is a crucial immune response that helps protect your body. However, when inflammation lingers and becomes chronic, it can lead to long-term discomfort and damage. Chronic inflammation plays a significant role in many degenerative diseases, including those we often mistake as a “normal” part of aging. Conditions like arthritis, hot flashes during perimenopause, or even cognitive issues aren’t necessarily signs of aging—they may be signs that your body is chronically inflamed.
Your immune system produces messenger molecules called cytokines that manage inflammation. These cytokines can either trigger or suppress an inflammatory response. The problem arises when inflammatory cytokines don’t get a chance to resolve. When that happens, they continue signaling immune cells to produce more inflammation, creating a vicious cycle. This persistent inflammatory process can:
Unresolved, chronic inflammation is not something you want to live with. But how can you tell if your inflammation has become chronic?
You may already suspect you’re inflamed based on how you feel. Symptoms of chronic inflammation can include:
Sometimes inflammation is “silent,” meaning you don’t feel the symptoms, but it’s still wreaking havoc on your body. In this case, lab tests can reveal elevated markers, such as:
Chronic inflammation is often either the cause or result of many degenerative and chronic health conditions. If you have any of the following, chronic inflammation is likely present:
If you experience any of these conditions, symptoms, or elevated lab markers, you’re likely dealing with unresolved inflammation. But here’s the good news: chronic inflammation is not something you have to accept as inevitable. With the right approach, you can actively reduce and resolve it.
We help women resolve chronic inflammation regularly in our functional medicine practice. We have a special program for this, which you can learn about here. You can turn around chronic inflammation, and you don’t have to do it alone!
Dr. Laura Paris is a women’s health specialist who provides Acupuncture and Functional Medicine care at her two clinics in Capitola and Monterey, California. She also works with women remotely in the United States through telehealth appointments. Learn more about Laura here, and message her directly here.
Click the button to talk to Dr Laura on a 20-minute discovery phone call ($67)