Is Inflammation Detrimental?

Feb 14

5 min read

We’ve all heard the talk that we are all too inflamed. We’ve heard it’s our diet, our sedentary lifestyle, and maybe even the way we work out. We see all these resources out there to help our inflammation from Turmeric, ice baths, Mediterranean diet, and so forth. But is inflammation detrimental? Do we want less cortisol? What about after an injury, should I control and reduce inflammation?

Inflammation and Tissue Repair

Inflammation plays an important role in tissue repair and regeneration. Period. (Cooke, 2019). I am not going to beat around the bush on whether inflammation is inherently bad or good, inflammation is mandatory for proper physiological function. I will also lead by acknowledging that chronic inflammation is indicated in cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disease, immune dysfunction, and much more. Balance is key, too much of any benefit can tip the scales towards nefarious territory.

I would never philosophically stand in the way of any individual who takes an anti-inflammatory lifestyle to the next level when they have atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, but I do want to raise the thought of what the unintended consequences on those who do use multiple anti-inflammatory therapies when they do not have diseases that clearly indicate lower inflammatory, particularly in respect to connective and myofascial tissue regeneration and repair. It is through inflammatory markers that we create the biological indicator for our immune system to start repairing any site of injury. It is well known that steroids reduce inflammation, impair regeneration and lead to poor healing due to limited immune function. This leads us to the discussion about cortisol, ice, supplements, diet, and physical activity.

Understanding Cortisol’s Role in the Body

Well, let’s first talk about the role of cortisol. It is definitely hip right now to nickname cortisol as the “stress hormone”. The media and influencers currently are taking advantage of this and have advertised their services as a way to reduce cortisol. However, all of this begs the question of "is cortisol actually playing a negative role in our everyday life?"

The first person that I heard start to suggest otherwise publicly was Dr. Andy Galpin. Dr. Andy Galpin, who has a Ph.D. in Human Bioenergetics, was on Dr. Andrew Huberman’s podcast discussing human performance through the lens of fitness and the different types of physical fitness. I was very pleased when he discussed how cortisol is a mandatory hormone for optimal function and I was even happier when he told the truth that inflammation is also mandatory for proper physical adaptations during and after physical activity.

First, it is important to understand that cortisol is a necessary physiological product of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (McEwen, 1998). This axis, which we can abbreviate as the HPA axis, is crucial for regulating mood, digestion, immune function, and energy usage. The hypothalamus is located in our brain which then signals to our pituitary gland which also is in the gland. The pituitary then sends a hormone to the adrenal glands producing multiple hormones including cortisol. As you can see, our bodies put in a lot of effort and regulation towards creating cortisol.

Is Cortisol Really Bad?

So how is cortisol inherently bad? Well, it most definitely is not. Cortisol rises in response to fun and exciting experiences, such as sports competitions or even Christmas Eve for children, it rises when we wake in order to provide that “energetic boost” to start our day, rises may result in a more positive effect, a person’s outward display of emotions are feelings, and increases in cortisol may even directly contribute to increased energy and lower fatigue (Hoyt, Zeiders, Ehrlich, & Adam, 2017).

The Relationship Between Cortisol and Inflammation

So if cortisol has all of the beneficial impacts, is it the cause or consequence of inflammation? Under normal circumstances, inflammation is the body's natural response to protect itself from harm. It involves immune cells, blood vessels, and molecular mediators to eliminate the initial cause of cell injury, clear out damaged cells, and establish repair.

During this process, the body signals the adrenal glands to release cortisol, which in turn helps to manage and eventually dampen the inflammatory response. Interestingly, recent research has highlighted a more dynamic interaction between cortisol and affect. The association between cortisol and effect is bidirectional and intricate.

Studies suggest that increases in cortisol are associated with subsequent rises in activeness, alertness, and even relaxation, contributing to an overall adaptive role in everyday life. This means that while cortisol helps in managing stress and inflammation, it also boosts feelings of energy and calmness, depending on the context. These findings indicate that cortisol's role is not merely to reduce inflammation but also to enhance the body's ability to respond to stressors dynamically.

Elevated cortisol levels may lead to increased feelings of activeness and alertness, possibly due to its effects on metabolic processes like blood glucose levels. This boost in energy can, paradoxically, also result in feelings of relaxation and reduced stress over time, as the body efficiently mobilizes resources to handle daily interactions.

Cortisol can be seen as both a cause and a consequence of inflammation, depending on the context. In acute situations, cortisol is beneficial and necessary for managing the body's response to injury or infection. However, in chronic stress situations, the prolonged release of cortisol can lead to a maladaptive response, promoting chronic inflammation and associated health issues.

Managing Stress and Cortisol Levels

As said, managing our stress levels and increases in cortisol is important. This can be done in many ways, but in our office, we like to suggest mindfulness and meditation which have been shown to be effective at changing cortisol levels (Rogerson, Wilding, Prudenzi, & O'Connor, 2024).

In our opinion, the most effective strategy that we will see in this post for improving overall health and inflammation is physical activity. There have been findings that suggest that physical activity is effective for not only lowering cortisol levels but also improving sleep quality (De Nys, et al., 2022).

However, there are smaller and more time-efficient strategies for managing cortisol through things such as supplementation. A study showed that in those that had functional hypercorticosolemia, colloquially known as Cushing’s Syndrome which is a condition where the body has too much cortisol for an extended period of time, Vitamin C was shown to help bring cortisone levels closer to normal levels (Beglaryan, Hakobyan, & Nazaretyan, 2024).

Supporting Your Health at Jepsen Chiropractic Wellness Center

At Jepsen Chiropractic Wellness Center in Naples, FL, Dr. Megan Jepsen and Dr. Andrew Jepsen recognize the essential role of inflammation in healing while also understanding the impact of chronic inflammation on overall health. Our comprehensive approach to wellness includes chiropractic care, acupuncture, and lifestyle recommendations to help you achieve optimal balance.

Whether you're looking to manage inflammation, improve recovery, or enhance your overall well-being, we are here to support you.