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How Do I Know If I Have Inflammation?

As you will tell when reading these sections, many disorders have the same symptoms. Your body's systems are all working together to achieve homeostasis.

Chronic Inflammation

The immune system uses a very intricate system of molecules that communicate throughout the body and signal when there is a problem that needs attention such as an infection or a stress response. 

 

When the immune system is repeatedly triggered by poor diet, sleep habits, and continuous stressors, the body develops a condition of chronic inflammation. If allowed to continue, this heightened level of activity will cause confusion similar to an overloaded electrical circuit and the body begins to make decisions that cause harmful side effects.

 

With chronic inflammation, the body's inflammatory switch has been turned on, and it has "forgotten" how to turn it off. By investigating and identifying the root causes, we help our clients return to the rest and repair state that will allow their body to restore balance.

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Chronic inflammation can be surprisingly subtle. It often doesn’t show up as obvious pain or illness at first—instead, it appears as patterns your body keeps repeating over time.

Woman in Pain
Inflammation Symptoms
Image by Matteo Vistocco

🔥 Persistent Fatigue

Feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep is one of the most common signs. Your body is constantly “on alert,” which drains energy.​

🧠 Brain Fog & Mood Changes

  • Trouble focusing or remembering things

  • Feeling mentally sluggish

  • Increased anxiety or low mood

Chronic inflammation is closely linked to changes in brain chemistry.​

🍽️ Digestive Issues

  • Bloating

  • Constipation or diarrhea

  • Food sensitivities

Inflammation in the gut can disrupt digestion and nutrient absorption.

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⚖️ Unexplained Weight Gain or Difficulty Losing Weight

Especially around the midsection. Hormonal imbalances caused by inflammation can make fat loss harder.

😴 Sleep Problems

  • Trouble falling asleep

  • Waking frequently during the night

Inflammation can disrupt your natural sleep-wake cycle.

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​🌿 Skin Issues

  • Acne

  • Eczema

  • Redness or puffiness

Your skin often reflects internal inflammation.

🤧 Frequent Illness or Slow Healing

If you’re getting sick often or wounds take longer to heal, your immune system may be overwhelmed.

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🍬 Sugar Cravings & Blood Sugar Swings

Inflammation can interfere with insulin sensitivity, leading to cravings and energy crashes.

❤️ Silent Internal Effects

Even without obvious symptoms, chronic inflammation is linked to conditions like:

  • Heart Disease

  • Type 2 Diabetes

  • Autoimmune Diseases

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A helpful way to think about it

Acute inflammation (like when you get a cut) is protective. But chronic inflammation is more like a slow, constant “background noise” in the body—it quietly wears things down over time.

Immune dysfunction
Sneezing

Immune Dysfunction 

Autoimmune and auto-inflammatory conditions are always associated with chronic inflammation. 

 

In this situation, the body is attacking itself because it no longer can properly identify a dangerous infectious pathogen from itself.  These conditions can still be reversed but require more investigation than just reducing inflammation. 

 

The body can and will still respond very quickly when stressors in the client’s lifestyle are identified and eliminated or minimized.  As the client learns about ways and develops skills to turn off the inflammatory cycle, the army of immune cells that patrol the body will reset and relearn how to properly identify the true enemy. 

 

This process is not only beneficial with an autoimmune and auto-inflammatory disease but also conditions of asthma and seasonal allergies. We use lab testing to reveal what is in your gut and develop a protocol for support and healing.

 

Schedule a Clarity Call to get started.

🛡️ Signs of an Underactive Immune System

(You’re not fighting things off well)

  • Frequent infections (colds, sinus infections, UTIs, etc.)

  • Infections that are hard to get rid of or keep coming back

  • Slow wound healing

  • Chronic fatigue or low energy

  • Digestive issues (since much of your immune system is in your gut)

  • Recurring fungal infections (like yeast infections)

 

🔥 Signs of an Overactive or Dysregulated Immune System

(Your body is reacting too strongly)

  • Chronic inflammation (joint pain, swelling, stiffness)

  • Allergies or increasing sensitivity to foods/environment

  • Skin issues (eczema, rashes, hives, psoriasis)

  • Asthma or breathing inflammation

  • Headaches or brain fog

  • Persistent low-grade fever

 

⚖️ Signs of Autoimmune Activity

(Your immune system attacks your own body)

  • Unexplained fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest

  • Joint pain or muscle aches

  • Hair loss

  • Digestive distress (bloating, IBS-like symptoms)

  • Numbness or tingling in hands/feet

  • Hormonal imbalances

  • Flare-ups that come and go

Examples of autoimmune conditions include Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, and Lupus.

 

🧠 Nervous System + Immune Connection

Because your immune system is closely tied to your nervous system, you might also notice:

  • Feeling constantly “on edge” or wired

  • Trouble recovering from stress

  • Poor sleep

  • Emotional overwhelm or burnout

 

🚩 When to Pay Closer Attention

You may want to look deeper if you notice:

  • Symptoms that persist longer than expected

  • Multiple symptoms across different body systems

  • A pattern of flare-ups and crashes

  • Feeling like your body is “out of sync” or unpredictable​

Dog and Woman Interaction

Digestive Distress

Just as with other chronic conditions, digestive stress has many contributing factors. 

 

Most people do not associate their digestive issues with how they process the events and interactions in their present lives or with what they may have experienced in the past.

 

The gut-brain connection is well documented.  The emotion center in the brain is where cortisol is regulated. Cortisol has a very powerful effect upon the bacterial balance in the intestine which in turn affects the gut's ability to absorb the nutrients it needs.

 

Our clients experience restored gut balance and the health benefits of a digestive system working properly.

Dish of Appetizers

Digestive distress can show up in ways that are obvious (like stomach pain) and also in ways that seem unrelated (like fatigue or skin issues). Here are the most common signs to look for:

 

🍽️ Core Digestive Symptoms

These are the most direct indicators:

  • Bloating (especially after meals)

  • Gas (burping or flatulence)

  • Abdominal pain or cramping

  • Diarrhea or constipation

  • Alternating between diarrhea and constipation

  • Heartburn or acid reflux

  • Nausea or occasional vomiting

  • Feeling overly full quickly when eating

 

🚽 Stool-Related Clues

Your bowel movements can tell you a lot:

  • Changes in frequency (too often or not enough)

  • Hard, dry stools or loose/watery stools

  • Undigested food in stool

  • Mucus in stool

  • Strong, persistent odor

Conditions like Irritable bowel syndrome and Gastroesophageal reflux disease often show up through these patterns.

 

🌿 Whole-Body Symptoms

Because digestion is connected to many systems, you might also notice:

  • Fatigue or sluggishness after eating

  • Brain fog or difficulty concentrating

  • Skin issues (acne, eczema, rashes)

  • Bad breath

  • Food sensitivities or intolerances

  • Headaches

  • Nutrient deficiencies (even if you’re eating well)

 

⚖️ Signs of Deeper Imbalance

These may suggest more chronic or systemic digestive issues:

  • Ongoing inflammation

  • Unintentional weight loss or gain

  • Persistent low appetite or intense cravings

  • Hormonal imbalances

  • Frequent illness (gut health is tied to immunity)

Conditions like Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or Leaky gut syndrome (a more functional medicine term) are often associated with these broader symptoms.

 

🚩 When to Look More Closely

It’s worth paying attention if:

  • Symptoms happen daily or after most meals

  • You feel worse after eating instead of better

  • Symptoms are getting progressively worse

  • You’re avoiding many foods just to feel okay

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Eye Close Up

Hormonal Imbalance 

This beautifully designed machine that we call the human body is miraculous. Just as a good conductor can draw and balance the various instruments in the symphony to create amazing music with its melodies and harmonies, the body also has the ability to create this type of synergy. 

 

When all these systems are communicating effectively and have sufficient resources, we as human beings can achieve goals and levels of vitality that we did not know were possible.  Synergy like this is achieved through hormone balance.

 

Hormone imbalance is the body's way of communicating that the person needs to make adjustments in lifestyle and nutrition.

 

Physical symptoms and an understanding of biochemical processes in the body help to identify the underlying causes for our client's distress. Together we come up with a workable strategy to restore this balance.

Woman Preparing Food

Symptoms of hormone imbalance can show up physically, mentally, and emotionally. They often feel widespread or a little “hard to pin down.”

Here are the most common patterns:

🔄 Energy + Mood Changes

  • Persistent fatigue (even after rest)

  • Mood swings or irritability

  • Anxiety or feeling on edge

  • Low motivation or mild depression

  • Brain fog or trouble concentrating

 

⚖️ Weight + Metabolism Shifts

  • Unexplained weight gain (especially around the abdomen)

  • Difficulty losing weight despite effort

  • Increased cravings (especially sugar or carbs)

  • Blood sugar crashes or energy dips

 

🌙 Sleep Disruptions

  • Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

  • Waking between 2–4 AM

  • Feeling tired but wired at night

 

🌸 Reproductive + Cycle Symptoms (for women)

  • Irregular periods or missed cycles

  • Heavy or very light periods

  • PMS or PMDD symptoms (mood, bloating, irritability)

  • Fertility challenges

  • Low libido or pain with intercourse

Conditions like Polycystic ovary syndrome and Endometriosis are commonly associated with these symptoms.

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💇‍♀️ Skin, Hair, + Physical Changes

  • Acne (especially along the jawline)

  • Dry skin or thinning hair

  • Hair loss or excess facial/body hair

  • Puffiness or fluid retention

 

🌡️ Thyroid-Related Symptoms

(Thyroid hormones strongly influence metabolism)

  • Feeling unusually cold or hot

  • Slowed metabolism or rapid heart rate

  • Constipation or frequent bowel movements

  • Fatigue + brain fog

Examples include Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism.

 

🍽️ Appetite + Digestive Changes

  • Increased or decreased appetite

  • Bloating or slower digestion

  • Cravings tied to your cycle or stress levels

 

🔁 Stress Hormone (Cortisol) Imbalance

  • Feeling “wired but tired”

  • Crashing in the afternoon

  • Difficulty handling stress

  • Burnout or overwhelm

 

🚩 When to Pay Closer Attention

  • Symptoms come in cycles or patterns (monthly, daily, seasonal)

  • You feel “off” but labs have been called “normal”

  • Multiple systems are involved (sleep + mood + digestion, etc.)

  • Symptoms worsen with stress

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