Inflammation and Its Link to Depression

Think of what happens when you sprain your ankle. Usually, the ankle starts to swell and becomes tender and inflamed, making it difficult for you to get around until it’s fully healed. But what if it doesn’t heal and instead remains painful and swollen? Unfortunately, when it comes to inflammation in general, this is becoming more and more of an issue for many people. When the body is exposed to a threat from toxins, injuries, or stress, the immune system rushes in with an inflammatory response to try to take care of the problem and restore balance. However, sometimes the threat is ongoing, and the inflammatory response doesn’t get “shut off.” When this happens, the ongoing inflammation can start wreaking havoc in the body. Chronic inflammation has been tied to several major health issues, including heart disease, cancer, and even depression, which is an important discovery for those who don’t respond to traditional treatments for depression like antidepressant medications. Read more…