11 Chronic Inflammation Symptoms

Chronic inflammation symptoms include classic signs like fatigue, fever, and joint pain. Inflammation is also known for causing symptoms that are considered atypical, including:

• Balance issues
• Eye problems
• Flu-like symptoms
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Insulin resistance
• Muscle weakness
• Skin issues, like rashes or hives
• Widespread body pain

Chronic systemic inflammation occurs when the immune system is constantly at work. This can trigger an overreaction that causes the body to attack itself. Inflammation can be a sign of some very serious health conditions and should not be ignored.

This article explores 11 chronic inflammation symptoms. It explains various causes of chronic inflammation and how it can be treated and prevented.

What Is the Difference Between Acute and Chronic Inflammation?

Inflammation comes in two types—acute and chronic.

Acute inflammation occurs in response to an injury or illness. It is part of the immune system response that helps with the healing process. Acute inflammation is generally short-lived and resolves quickly.

Chronic inflammation is more concerning. The effects linger, leaving the body in a constant state of panic. Over time, chronic inflammation will start to have a negative impact on tissues and organs. It can stick around for months or even years and play a role in the development of many diseases, from autoimmune diseases to cancer.

What Causes Chronic Inflammation?

Chronic inflammation can be caused by a number of factors, including: 

• Autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or lupus, where the body attacks healthy tissue
• Exposure to toxins, like pollution or industrial chemicals that the body is unable to clear
• Infections the body is unable to fully resolve
• Untreated acute inflammation from an injury

Lifestyle factors can also lead to chronic inflammation. These include:

• Chronic stress
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Too much or too little exercise
  

Low Back Pain

Chronic lower back pain can be a sign of inflammation. Conditions like ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-AxSpA) are known for causing chronic inflammation that attacks the spine. Both can cause pain in the hips and neck. They will also cause pain and stiffness in the lower back, especially in the morning.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you experience persistent low back and hip pain. Early treatment can manage the condition, control pain and stiffness, and reduce the risk of disability.

Skin Symptoms

Skin symptoms, especially rashes, are common in a variety of autoimmune diseases known for causing systemic (all-over) inflammation.

Inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis develop when the immune system triggers inflammation that attacks skin cells. But even conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which don’t usually cause skin symptoms, can trigger inflammation that attacks the skin.

About 1 in 100 people with RA will have some kind of skin involvement as part of their disease. Skin involvement in RA indicates a severe form of the disease. This may advance into complications of the disease like rheumatoid nodules, Felty syndrome, livedo reticularis, and rheumatoid vasculitis.

Talk to your healthcare provider about any new skin symptoms you experience. They can determine the source and provide you with treatment options. 

Swollen Lymph Nodes

The medical term for swollen lymph nodes is lymphadenitis. There are about 600 lymph nodes in your body, but the only ones you can feel are located in the neck, under the armpits, and in the groin area. Lymph nodes will swell up as a warning sign something is going on with your immune system. 

A sore throat or cold can cause lymph nodes to swell up in the neck. Once your body has fought off the viral infection, you will start to feel better, and the swelling will be gone.

Excess Mucus Production

If you are always needing to clear your throat or blow your nose, this is another sign of inflammation. Mucus is produced by the lower airways in response to inflammation.

A number of inflammatory diseases can trigger mucus production, including:

• Chronic bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Pneumonia

If excess mucus production is a regular and uncomfortable occurrence for you, talk to your healthcare provider about getting a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Low Energy

If you are consistently feeling fatigued despite getting plenty of sleep at night, this might be a clue your body is fighting off inflammation.

You will have little energy because your immune system is consistently working to regulate itself. The result is chronic inflammation from an imbalance in the amount of energy you have and what your body is trying to use.

Talk to your healthcare provider if fatigue and low energy are giving you any amount of concern. You should make an appointment with your healthcare provider for fatigue that has lasted two or more weeks despite getting better sleep, reducing stress, eating healthy, and staying hydrated.

Poor Digestion

Common digestion issues associated with chronic inflammation include:

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Reflux

Research shows that even low levels of inflammation can affect your gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

A number of inflammatory diseases can cause digestive symptoms. These include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Interstitial cystitis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE)

Ongoing digestive issues can affect your quality of life. If you are consistently experiencing digestive troubles, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. It might help to write down all your symptoms and what triggers them.

The more information you can share with your healthcare provider, the easier it will be to narrow down a diagnosis.

Balance Problems

Inflammatory diseases can cause the body to overact act and attack nerve cells. When that happens, nerve signals are compromised, and a person might feel dizzy, off-balance, or have problems walking.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one such inflammatory disease that affects balance. This is because MS causes inflammation in parts of the brain responsible for processing balance.

Further, any inflammatory condition—like an autoimmune disease—that causes vision, inner ear, and sensory problems can also alter balance.

Contact your healthcare provider if you notice changes to your balance or gait (the way you walk).

Insulin Resistance

Research shows inflammation affects the way that insulin works. Insulin controls sugar levels in the blood, and insulin resistance can lead to high blood sugar. Persistent high levels of blood sugar can damage nerves and blood cells and lead to diabetes.

Symptoms of high blood sugar include:

• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Headaches
• Trouble concentrating
• Weight loss

Talk to your healthcare provider if you are consistently experiencing one or more of these symptoms, as persistent high blood sugar can cause serious complications. 

Blood Clotting Problems

People who develop inflammation from an injury, trauma, or inflammatory disease can develop hypercoagulation—a condition that causes the blood to clot too much. Hypercoagulation might lead to a stroke, heart attack, or pulmonary embolism.

A blood clot of the heart or lung may cause:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Upper body discomfort

A blood clot in the brain causes:

• Headaches
• Inability to move
• Problems understanding speech
• Trouble speaking

A blood clot in the deep veins will cause the following symptoms in one or both lower legs:

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• Warmth

Dry Eyes

Dry eyes are common with many inflammatory conditions, including Sjögren’s disease, an autoimmune disease that affects the tear glands and the salivary glands.

Eye inflammation is also common in other autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma.

Contact your healthcare provider if you experience very dry eyes, blurry vision, burning or stinging of the eyes, a gritty feeling in one or both eyes, sensitivity to light, discomfort wearing contacts, or inflamed eyelids.

Your healthcare provider can prescribe treatments to ease symptoms and reduce your risk of vision loss and other serious eye complications. 

Brain Fog

Brain fog is a symptom of many inflammatory conditions. It affects memory problems, mental clarity, concentration, and focus. 

Research shows inflammation might be responsible for the mental sluggishness associated with chronic inflammatory diseases.

If inflammation is left unchecked, it can be just as debilitating as the disease that has caused the inflammation.

Treatment for chronic inflammation can resolve cognitive issues. Inflammation can also be managed by making healthy diet choices. Diet changes can improve energy, overall health, and other symptoms caused by ongoing inflammation. 

How to Treat Chronic Inflammation Symptoms

Chronic inflammation symptoms is treated in a number of ways, depending on the symptoms.

Diet

Certain nutrients can help to fight chronic inflammation by counteracting inflammatory proteins like C-reactive protein, interleukins (like IL-1 or IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a). These include: 

• Antioxidants 
• Curcumin
• Fiber 
• Fish oil
• Magnesium
• Polyphenols in green and black tea
• Selenium
• Sesame lignans
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Zinc 

Inflammatory conditions related to carrying excess weight can often be managed with weight loss. Dietary recommendations include following a low-glycemic diet and reducing fat intake.

Exercise

Getting regular exercise is also shown to reduce chronic inflammation apart from weight loss. Research shows exercise lowers multiple pro-inflammatory molecules and cytokines at play in chronic inflammation.

Medication

Medications used to treat chronic inflammation vary based on the symptoms or underlying causes of inflammation. Examples include: 

• Corticosteroids like prednisone for a variety of conditions such as asthma, inflammatory arthritis, lupus, and sarcoidosis
• Metformin for type 2 diabetes
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), and aspirin for pain
• Statins for cardiovascular disease

Herbal Remedies

Several herbs have anti-inflammatory properties that may help relieve chronic inflammation. These include:

• Cannabis
• Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens)
• Ginger
• Hyssop
• Turmeric

Consult your healthcare provider prior to using herbs to treat inflammation.

How to Prevent Chronic Inflammation Symptoms

Chronic inflammation can be prevented with the following healthy strategies:

• Avoid eating simple sugars, refined carbohydrates, high-glycemic foods, trans fats, and hydrogenated oils. 
• Eat more anti-inflammatory foods, like whole grains, vegetables and fruits such as avocados, cherries, kale, and fatty fish like salmon.
• Get regular exercise 
• Reduce stress by practicing meditation or yoga.
• Sleep at least seven to eight hours a night.
• Use antacids, antibiotics, and NSAIDs sparingly.

Summary

Chronic inflammation increases the risk of serious health conditions. If you experience signs of inflammation—whether common or atypical—talk to your healthcare provider about getting bloodwork to determine the source of the inflammation.

Medications, dietary supplements, and lifestyle changes can manage chronic inflammation. You should also do what you can manage to stressors and avoid smoking and excess alcohol consumption to reduce your risk.