Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Inflammation is the body’s way of responding to threats such as infection. But sometimes the body’s inflammatory response can go haywire, attacking healthy, non-diseased tissues.
Researchers believe that the immune system may play a role in inflammatory diseases. However, the cause of many inflammatory conditions is poorly understood.
There are a wide variety of conditions that cause ongoing inflammation in the body. These conditions are called chronic inflammatory diseases.
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Types of Chronic Inflammatory Diseases
Here’s an overview of common chronic inflammatory diseases and their symptoms.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s diseaseis a digestive tract condition that is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). If you have Crohn’s disease, you will experience periods of no symptoms alternating with attacks consisting of severe symptoms. The inflammation causes symptoms such as:
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis(UC) is another inflammatory bowel disease. It can affect multiple parts of the digestive tract. Like other inflammatory conditions, UC often results in flares that come and go.
Symptoms include:
Symptoms can be mild or severe, depending on the person.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)is an inflammatory disease that affects the joints. It’s common in the hands and wrists but can affect any joint in the body.
Symptoms can come and go. The inflammation that comes with RA can also affect organs, including the eyes, lungs, and heart.
Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis(PsA) often starts before the age of 30 and affects the joints and skin. Symptoms vary depending on the person and come and go.
Symptoms may include:
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition that most often causes thick, scaly patches on the skin’s surface, called plaques. It can also present in the form of tiny, salmon-colored bumps. This is called guttate psoriasis. Other forms of psoriasis include inverse, erythrodermic, and pustular. A third of people with psoriasis may eventually develop psoriatic arthritis.
Lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)is a chronic condition. It can affect multiple parts of the body, including the skin, joints, and organs. People with lupus experience flares that can range from mild to severe.
According to the American College of Rheumatology, SLE is more common in Black and Asian females.
Early signs of SLE include:
Asthma
Asthmais a chronic illness affecting the lungs. The condition causes periodic inflammation that narrows the airways and affects a person’s ability to breathe. It can cause respiratory distress. People often develop asthma at a young age.
People with asthma may experience:
These symptoms may be very severe during an asthma attack, and a person may struggle to breathe.
Some common asthma symptom triggers include:
Symptoms may also worsen when a person has a respiratory illness.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Conditions That Cause Chronic Inflammation
Chronic Inflammatory Disease Symptoms
There are many diseases that cause chronic or recurring inflammation in the body. When they affect the joints, symptoms often include:
Chronic inflammatory diseases can also affect the organs. Commonly affected organs include parts of the digestive tract, the heart, and lungs. Inflammation can, for example, increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.Some inflammatory disorders, such as certain forms of arthritis, can also cause vision complications.
Experts understand that chronic inflammation in the body occurs because of an incorrect immune response. However, what triggers this response is not well understood.
Potential causes for chronic inflammatory diseases may include:
Diagnosing a chronic inflammatory disease can be difficult because the symptoms may come and go. Different conditions may also share similar symptoms.
A healthcare provider may use the following to help diagnose a chronic inflammatory disease:
While treatment plans may differ depending on the particular inflammatory disease in question, common treatment strategies involve:
Most chronic inflammatory diseases have no cure. Thankfully, available treatments make it possible to manage symptoms such as pain and inflammation. People with chronic inflammatory diseases can live full lives with the right treatment plan.
In addition to a treatment plan from your healthcare provider, lifestyle changes may help you cope with your condition. Some ways to reduce inflammation and manage symptoms include:
You may also find it helpful to talk to other people who have the same condition. Managing a chronic, lifelong illness can feel like a heavy burden. Illness support groups may be helpful for those struggling to cope with a new diagnosis.
Summary
Chronic inflammatory diseases include those that affect the digestive system, joints, skin, respiratory system, and organs. The causes are thought to be a faulty immune response, which may be associated with certain triggers.
Treatment may be with NSAIDs, DMARDs, and lifestyle modifications. Chronic inflammatory diseases cannot be cured, but treatment can manage symptoms and prevent complications.
A Word From Verywell
Chronic inflammatory diseases can be tough to live with. Still, if you have an inflammatory condition, it’s possible to live a long life thanks to treatment advances.
Coping with pain and other symptoms is challenging, but lifestyle changes and medical treatments can help you manage your chronic inflammatory disease.
If you think you have a chronic inflammatory disease, talk to your healthcare provider. In many cases, early treatment can help prevent complications and allow you to live more comfortably.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Crohn’s disease.Cleveland Clinic.Ulcerative colitis.Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis: Causes, symptoms, treatments and more.Arthritis Foundation.Psoriatic arthritis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis: Signs and symptoms.American College of Rheumatology.Lupus.MedlinePlus.Systemic lupus erythematosus.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Asthma.American Lung Association.COPD symptoms and diagnosis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fight inflammation to help prevent heart disease.MaineHealth.Inflammatory disease.National Cancer Institute.Chronic inflammation.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Crohn’s disease.Cleveland Clinic.Ulcerative colitis.Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis: Causes, symptoms, treatments and more.Arthritis Foundation.Psoriatic arthritis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis: Signs and symptoms.American College of Rheumatology.Lupus.MedlinePlus.Systemic lupus erythematosus.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Asthma.American Lung Association.COPD symptoms and diagnosis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fight inflammation to help prevent heart disease.MaineHealth.Inflammatory disease.National Cancer Institute.Chronic inflammation.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cleveland Clinic.Crohn’s disease.Cleveland Clinic.Ulcerative colitis.Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis: Causes, symptoms, treatments and more.Arthritis Foundation.Psoriatic arthritis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis: Signs and symptoms.American College of Rheumatology.Lupus.MedlinePlus.Systemic lupus erythematosus.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Asthma.American Lung Association.COPD symptoms and diagnosis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fight inflammation to help prevent heart disease.MaineHealth.Inflammatory disease.National Cancer Institute.Chronic inflammation.
Cleveland Clinic.Crohn’s disease.
Cleveland Clinic.Ulcerative colitis.
Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis: Causes, symptoms, treatments and more.
Arthritis Foundation.Psoriatic arthritis.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis: Signs and symptoms.
American College of Rheumatology.Lupus.
MedlinePlus.Systemic lupus erythematosus.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Asthma.
American Lung Association.COPD symptoms and diagnosis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fight inflammation to help prevent heart disease.
MaineHealth.Inflammatory disease.
National Cancer Institute.Chronic inflammation.
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