Chronic Inflammation: What It Is, How It Affects You, and What You Can Do

When your body fights off a cut or a cold, chronic inflammation, a long-term, low-grade immune response that doesn’t shut off like it should. Also known as systemic inflammation, it’s not the kind that makes your ankle swell after a sprain—it’s the quiet burn inside that wears you down over years. Unlike acute inflammation, which helps you heal, chronic inflammation sticks around even when there’s no infection or injury. It’s like a fire that won’t go out, slowly damaging your tissues, organs, and even your DNA.

This hidden state is tied to autoimmune disease, conditions where your immune system attacks your own body, like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. That’s why drugs like Baricitinib, a JAK inhibitor that blocks the signals driving inflammation, are used to calm the immune system down. But it’s not just about arthritis. Chronic inflammation plays a role in heart disease, diabetes, even depression. It’s the common thread behind many long-term health problems you might not connect to your immune system.

You won’t always feel it. No redness, no fever—just fatigue, brain fog, or joint stiffness that won’t quit. That’s why so many people live with it for years without knowing. The good news? You can find clues in your health history. If you’ve got persistent pain, unexplained weight gain, or trouble sleeping, your body might be signaling long-term inflammation. And while you can’t always stop it, you can slow it down—with diet, movement, and sometimes targeted medication.

Below, you’ll find real, practical guides on how inflammation connects to the medications you take, the diseases you live with, and the supplements you might be using. From how Baricitinib helps your joints to why certain antibiotics or antihistamines matter more than you think, these posts cut through the noise. No fluff. Just what works—and what doesn’t—when your body won’t stop fighting itself.