Inflammation is a natural defense mechanism that the body uses in order to protect itself. On the other hand, it can be an indicator of poor health and even contribute to health complications. Inflammation can be a sign of a serious illness and is often attributed to many diseases.

Over the past year much news came out in regards to inflammation treatment and prevention, so we have put all of our top stories together to give you easy access to this vital information.

Below are Bel Marra Health’s top 2015 news stories in regards to brain and body inflammation and how you can protect yourself against it.

Depression and Inflammation: Depression and anhedonia caused by inflammation affecting the brain

A new study uncovered that inflammation and anhedonia are directly related.
Some studies show that about one-third of people who suffer from depression have high levels of inflammation in their blood. Now new research demonstrates that ongoing inflammation impacts the brain in a way that is connected to signs of depression, including anhedonia. Some of the latest research, published online in Molecular Psychiatry suggests that blocking inflammation in the brain may allow for the reversal of anhedonia, the feeling of not being able to experience and enjoy pleasure.

Anhedonia is a major symptom of depression and can be hard to treat. Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine and Winship Cancer Institute report that some patients taking antidepressants continue to suffer from anhedonia, so tailored treatments to deal with high-inflammation may help. Learn More

Reduce Inflammation: Inflammation reduced and health improved with better sleep and tai chi

Sleep and tai chi can reduce inflammation, according to new research.

Research suggests that better sleep and tai chi can work to reduce inflammation and promote health. Inflammation is intended to protect the body after injury or during infection, but at the same time inflammatory responses can also be damaging to the body as well. Inflammation has been found to contribute to heart disease, cancer, stroke and other medical problems.

Stress and sleep disturbances are major contributors to inflammation in the body. Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder and has been linked with depression, medical comorbidities and mortality.

The research showed that for those over the age of 55, inflammation was reduced with better sleep as well as tai chi, which helped to reduce stress. Learn More

Osteoarthritis and Inflammation: Inflammation increases pain sensitivity in osteoarthritis

Researchers have found that preventing inflammation can help reduce osteoarthritis pain.

Inflammation has been found to contribute to pain sensitivity in the knees of osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Targeting inflammation early on may be a preventative technique that helps reduce pain in the knee due to osteoarthritis.

Researchers from Boston University found that reducing the inflammation did not reduce pain significantly, which led researcher Tuhina Neogi, M.D., Ph.D., to write, “Perhaps once sensitization or heightened sensitivity has occurred, removal of the inflammatory stimulus may not be sufficient to alter the sensitization.”

The researchers suggest increased sensitization of peripheral or central nociceptive neurons contributes to the pain experienced in knee osteoarthritis. The researchers wrote, “Sensitization leads to heightened pain sensitivity, thereby contributing to a more severe pain experience.” Learn More

Inflammation Treatment: Control inflammation to reduce chronic disease

A recent study found that what you eat can affect your body’s inflammation levels.

It all comes down to what you eat. In a recent article published in the British Journal of Nutrition, a coalition of experts explain how nutrition influences inflammatory processes.

Inflammation is both good and bad. Acute inflammation is a friend and plays an important role in essential metabolic regulation and in host defense. But if inflammation remains unresolved it is classified as low-grade chronic status. Elevated unresolved chronic inflammation is the main culprit in many a chronic disease including metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Therefore controlling inflammation is crucial to human health and a key future target from both the prevention standpoint and the treatment aspect, said researchers. Learn More

Suicide and Inflammation: New study finds link between suicide and inflammation

Researchers found a chemical link between suicide and inflammation.

Suicide ranks number 10 as the leading cause of death in America. Conversations about suicide rarely include seniors, but they should. Suicide rates increase with age, and elderly men in industrialized countries tend to see the highest suicide rates, as discussed in the journal Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. The journal noted rates were highest among elderly Caucasian men in the U.S., although rates among African-American men are higher in younger age groups.

There are countless reasons as to why someone would take their own life, but new research has found that there may be a link between suicide and inflammation.

By analyzing previous studies, researchers found that an increase in chemicals called cytokines, which lead to inflammation, is higher among people who have attempted suicide or are thinking about it. These changes were seen in comparison to individuals who were being treated for a psychosis, but did not contemplate nor attempt suicide. Learn More