Is Inflammation the Source of Your Stomach Pain?

If you’ve ever experienced a paper cut, you might have noticed that the surrounding skin turned warm and red. This is a natural response from your immune system, which sends a rush of blood to the area to deliver healing white blood cells. The same thing occurs when a sprained ankle swells or strep throat brings a fever. This process is known as inflammation. 

Inflammation: Helpful or Harmful? 

“Inflammation is a broad term for many different types of immune-related responses,” explains Dr. Jason Hou, gastroenterologist at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. 

Basically, our immune system uses inflammation as a tool when something isn’t right in your body. There are multiple types of inflammation, so your body deploys different types depending on your condition, such as the stomach flu, a cut, or an infection. This type of short-term inflammation helps you heal and can come with side effects such as redness, swelling, or heat. 

While short-term inflammation can help you heal, the chronic type can be harmful to your well-being. Researchers have found connections between inflammation and many long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart disease. Your activity level, diet, and stress levels can all affect how much inflammation you experience. 

Chronic Inflammation and Your Digestive Tract

Inflammation is responsible for the two types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease. These can have painful symptoms and increase your risk of developing colorectal cancer in the future. UC occurs in the large intestine and rectum, while Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of IBD include:

• Irregular bowel movements, which might include blood, pus, or mucus 
• Inflamed eyes 
• Joint pain 
• Skin conditions 
• Tiredness 
• Irregular menstrual cycles 
• Fever and sweating 
• Nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting 

How to Reduce Inflammation Through Your Diet 

Your diet can have a significant impact on the levels of inflammation in your body. The antioxidants in certain foods can neutralize free radicals, unstable molecules that promote inflammation by damaging healthy cells in the body.

• Inflammatory Foods:
  • Sugary foods and drinks, like cookies and sodas
  • Refined carbs, like pasta and breakfast cereals  
  • Red meats, like beef and pork
  • Processed meats, like bacon and hot dogs 
  • Excessive amounts of alcohol 
  • Processed foods
  • Foods with trans fats 
• Anti-Inflammatory Foods:
  • Fruits, like berries and apples 
  • Vegetables, like tomatoes and broccoli
  • Fatty fish, like salmon and sardines
  • Nuts, like walnuts and almonds
  • Certain oils, like olive oil
  • Spices, like cinnamon and turmeric 
  • Dark chocolate
  • Green tea 

Anti-inflammatory foods make up the basis of the Mediterranean diet, making it a great option for people looking to reduce inflammation. 

If you find yourself with ongoing stomach pain, schedule an appointment with a St. Luke’s Health gastroenterologist. They can provide a diagnosis and resources to help you overcome your symptoms. 

Ranked among the best hospitals in the nation in gastroenterology and GI surgery, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center offers a full range of gastrointestinal diagnostic capabilities and therapeutics under one roof, allowing us to streamline the patient journey from evaluation to recovery.

Sources:
Time | You Asked: What Is Inflammation, And Why Should I Care About It?
Medium | Why Does Inflammation Seem to Underlie All Sickness?
CDC | What is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?
Harvard Health Publishing | Foods that fight inflammation
Healthline | Anti-Inflammatory Diet 101: How to Reduce Inflammation Naturally
Medical News Today | What to know about inflammatory bowel disease