People often perceive inflammation as something that needs to be eradicated all the time. The fact of the matter is that inflammation is beneficial in the short run. Inflammation is a natural and normal part of your body’s immune response—to protect you from something that is perceived to have a potentially harmful effect on your health (e.g. infections, injuries, and toxins).

However, when such an immune response lingers and puts your body in a constant state of alert despite the absence of an infection or injury, it may also have a negative impact on your health. This is referred to as chronic inflammation, and it has been shown to ignite the development of inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and cancer. Symptoms of chronic systemic inflammation include skin rashes, low energy or fatigue, poor digestion, and body pain (muscle aches and joint pain), among others.

If you have a family history or symptoms of inflammatory disorders, it pays to see a doctor, preferably one who is board certified in integrative and functional medicine to help you either reduce your risk or effectively manage your condition. Your doctor will likely recommend the following treatment approaches:

Diet and Lifestyle Modification

Diet and lifestyle modifications are the mainstay of both prevention and treatment of inflammatory disorders.

Avoiding foods that are processed and those loaded with sugar and trans fats, can help you get on the path to recovery.

Listed below are some of the foods that are known to contain anti-inflammatory properties:

• Berries, oranges, and cherries
• Fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel
• Green leafy vegetables, such as kale and spinach
• Tomatoes
• Mushrooms, such as portobello and shiitake
• Spices, such as turmeric, ginger, and clove

To further help reduce inflammation, your doctor will likely recommend the following self-care strategies:

• Regular exercise
• Stress management
• Smoking cessation
• Eating small meals (especially if your inflammatory disorder involves your digestive tract)
• Drinking plenty of water (avoiding alcohol and minimizing caffeine intake)
• Taking vitamin supplements- Your doctor will help you decide which vitamin supplements are appropriate for your condition.

Pharmacological Intervention

Depending on the specific type of inflammatory disorder that you’re diagnosed with, your integrative and functional medicine doctor will likely collaborate with your primary care physician to prescribe any or a combination of the following:

• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)- This class of drugs is prescribed for people living with rheumatoid arthritis and many other autoimmune disorders and works by suppressing your body’s inflammatory responses.
• Biologic drugs- These medications are derived from living biological organisms and are genetically engineered to target certain molecules in the body that contribute to the development of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, psoriasis, et al.

Treatment for Inflammatory Disorders in Weatherford, TX

At Alpha Wellness Center, board-certified functional and integrative medicine doctor Dr. Catherine Oseni utilizes current evidence-based research, nutraceuticals (pharmaceutical-grade supplements), and functional medical foods to address inflammatory disorders.

Dr. Catherine Oseni will work closely with your healthcare team to make appropriate recommendations on the safety and effective use of medications. She will also educate you on the importance of proper nutrition and making healthy lifestyle choices to effectively tamp down your inflammatory disorder.

To learn more about our services or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Catherine Oseni, call us at (817) 550-6332, or you may fill out this appointment request form. We look forward to helping you better manage your health!