Experiencing pain? Understanding inflammation and how you can combat it

Inflammation is natural — it’s how the body protects itself from harm. It is caused by chemicals released by your white blood cells, and in increased flow of blood to the areas of your body which are under stress. It is associated with everything from bumps, bruises and scrapes, to illness and stress. This is why unfortunately there’s a strong relationship between inflammation and pain.

And pain is a persistent problem in Australia. 1 in 5 Australians aged 45 and over are living with ongoing pain, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Research shows this means they’re five times more likely to be limited in doing the activities they enjoy¹.

On top of this, 60% of Australians are purchasing headache and pain relief products each month², and 3.6 million Aussies have some form of arthritis — that’s one in seven³.

While inflammation is a fact of life, too much or too little can place a huge strain on your body. Fortunately, there are simple steps that form a balanced, healthy lifestyle which can help reduce inflammation and take a load off your immune system, reducing potentially harmful elements your body would otherwise need to protect against with inflammation, as part of its natural immune response.

• Diet 
  

  Processed foods, simple carbohydrates and excess sugar have all been linked to increased inflammation. As has too much alcohol, and smoking. Limiting or cutting out these products can do wonders.
  
  

• Supplements
  

  Supplements can also play a significant role in pain management, as part of a holistic approach. Nageze can help support a 360-approach to health and pain management — as one component of a healthy lifestyle that encompasses exercise, sleep, GP and Allied Health support and healthy nutrition.
  
  

• Stress

  Stress puts the body into fight vs flight mode, and this releases harmful cortisols which in turn increase inflammation. Effective methods to reduce stress include mindfulness strategies such as mediation, or other relaxation techniques such as yoga, tai chi and good sleep habits.
  
  

• Exercise

  Lastly, exercise — especially cardiovascular exercise such as running, swimming, cycling  or walking — has been shown to have a direct link to reduced inflammation.

Reducing inflammation isn’t complicated — and these simple steps are part of a healthy lifestyle that’s proven to be good for you anyway. By understanding inflammation and how you can combat it, you can enjoy every minute of this lifestyle with less pain.

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.  

References

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2020. Chronic Pain in Australia. Canberra: AIHW, p.1.
2. Roy Morgan. 2022. Panadol’s continuing dominance proves a pain for competitors. [online] Available at: <https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/panadols-continuing-dominance-proves-a-pain-for-competitors> [Accessed 29 September 2022].
3. Arthritis Australia. 2022. Fast facts — Arthritis Australia. [online] Available at: <https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/what-is-arthritis/fastfacts/> [Accessed 29 September 2022].