Joint Pain and Inflamation Connection
February 18, 2011 by Eric
Filed under Joint Pain Causes
Inflammation, Joint Swelling, and Joint Pain
The response of the immune system to an irritant is called inflammation. When, for example, you sprain your ankle, your immune system produces a protein which is transported to the site of the injury and results in pain and swelling. The pain is simply your body informing you of the injury or damage. The swelling is another layer of protection to prevent the site of injury from moving too much and causing further injury. Moreover, the swelling is also an indication that the body is addressing the injury by flooding the area with fresh blood, antibodies and vital cells to promote healing of the damage. Following this, in the normal course of things, the body produces proteolytic enzymes which work to counteract the inflammation allowing the injured area to return to normal.Unfortunately, problems arise after we reach the age of approximately 25. Our production of these enzymes drops precipitously and the body loses the ability to tell itself to stop the inflammation. The inflammation, therefore, continues to increase in the body, often without our being aware of it, causing damage to our tissues and organs. Without bringing this inflammation under control, the body is subjected to these stressors over time and a host of side-effects may arise, including arthritis, chronic pain, heart disease, stoke, Alzheimer’s, etc. We will eventually succumb to this inflammation: new research is proving this more and more. The elimination of pain and prevention of disease and illness is closely tied to the ability to reduce inflammation.
Following is a partial list of natural preventative techniques:
- Dietary changes
- Control or eliminate emotional stress.
- In addition to dietary changes, avoid exposure to toxins and other chemicals
- Take supplements to replace lost proteolytic enzymes
Keep in mind that to avoid such health problems as rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, stroke etc., we must keep inflammation in check. It doesn’t just cause joint swelling and pain, but contributes to many other health complications as well. Eating a well-rounded and healthy diet is a great start toward combating inflammation and the resulting pain. Foods high in omega-3 are a wonderful aid in controlling inflammation. Try adding servings of salmon, tuna, cod and mackerel to your diet as they are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids. At least two servings of fish per week will do nicely. But if you don’t like fish, consider a supplement of fish oil or flax seed oil every day. Another excellent dietary treatment for inflammation is olive oil. Just 3.5 tablespoons a day has been shown to lessen joint pain. Other helpful foods are ginger, turmeric, cherries, pomegranate, and black or green tea. Adding only one of these foods to your diet will provide only nominal relief, but when combined they can provide powerful relief for joint swelling pain and may even eliminate the need for medications.
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- Eric
