What is stress-induced inflammation?

Having some inflammation in the body is needed to heal from injuries, cuts, an illness, etc. When something foreign enters the body (i.e. bacteria or a virus) your immune function starts to activate inflammatory cells. These cells are designed to ambush unwanted toxins to support healing. This is the way inflammation should ideally operate in the body. 

But there are times when inflammation persists for years, even when the body has recovered from an injury! Chronic inflammation may manifest as fevers, pain, skin health disturbances (i.e. rashes), fatigue, stomach pains, diarrhea, and repeatedly getting sick. So, how does stress relate to this? Read these key points on how stress-induced inflammation is formed: 

• • When you’re face-to-face with pressures, the adrenal glands release stress hormones to help you cope. Your body may also boost its heart rate and blood pressure. When stress becomes chronic without any “down time”, your body repeatedly pumps out stress hormones, such as cortisol. 
  • When cortisol is released, it naturally suppresses “non-emergency” functions for short term purposes, including immune function; this is so that you can handle the stress load efficiently and quickly. But when stress becomes consistent over time, the adrenals cannot stop “pumping out” cortisol This over-activates both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects for your immune health. 
  • Eventually, the immune cells get used to chronic stress and the excessive amounts of cortisol. The cortisol overloads end up “training” the body to stop fighting inflammation, boosting your susceptibility to chronic illnesses, viruses, etc.  

Bottom line: finding ways to relieve stress can go a long way, especially for controlling inflammation! So, if you already find yourself relating to this article, why not explore new stress reduction tips? 

Functional medicine and IV therapies to consider

Functional medicine is a paradigm that advocates for personalized therapies. A patient is viewed as a separate entity with unique key components (i.e. genetics, lifestyle, etc.); because of this, health advice is targeted for biological needs. 

At the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre and IV Lounge, we personalize treatments with integrative functional medicine – what this means is that we adapt and integrate several treatment modalities to support your biology and health goals. If you were to visit our clinicians for stress-induced inflammation, we may discuss the following:

• • Mental health strategies: A psychotherapist from our clinic can teach you stress management tactics (i.e. cognitive behavioral therapy), which can help you in your daily activities. One study from Biological Psychology revealed that cognitive psychotherapy cut down oxidative stress in patients with major depression. (Oxidative stress can lead to chronic inflammation.)
  • Exercising outdoors: In an International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health narrative, outdoor exercise is posited to decrease depression and anxiety.  
  • Improving sleep conditions: Put away the electronic devices for good-quality sleep. “In several contexts, associations of stress and insufficient sleep with inflammation appear stronger in women than in men,” explains a Current Psychiatry Reports 
  • Oral supplementation and/or IV vitamin infusions: A functional medicine practitioner or IV therapy provider can design a supplement regime to support your healing. You may be advised to take certain nutrients to combat inflammation (glutathione); to promote liver detoxification (i.e. NAC); and/or to lower cortisol for stress (i.e.adaptogens ). Keep in mind though, treatments are based on your unique chief health concerns; treatments that work for one person may not apply to a different individual. If you suffer from malabsorption from a health condition (i.e. inflammatory bowel disease), we can prescribe and customize your nutritional drip. The intravenous route promises you a complete, rapid absorption of nutrients because nutrients are directed into your vein and blood stream only. Thus, an IV vitamin drip is suitable for a patient with a compromised digestive tract. Find out the top 5 detoxifying nutrients used in your IV drip in Toronto by reading our previous blog post.

Certainly, stress can influence inflammation, as well as cause acne, an upset stomach, and low energy levels. Undertake your health concerns now with our functional medicine strategies and IV therapy. Good news – our Toronto IV Lounge is accepting new patients for functional medicine and supportive intravenous therapy.

Getting vitamin IV therapy from our Toronto clinic

We’re located inside our Yorkville clinic, the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC). Fun fact: we’ve been operating in Toronto since 2012, and we opened the city’s first IV lounge! Our IV therapy providers can prescribe intravenous treatments if need be; these are not meant to act as ‘quick fixes’ for alleviating medical conditions. They are designed for adjunctive purposes only, especially for supporting health optimization. When IV therapy drips are administered with other treatment modalities and a nourishing quality of life, they can contribute to health upgrades.

A wide range of key ingredients are available in our IV Lounge, including a medley of amino acids with glutamic acid, glutathione, high-dose vitamin C drip, and NAD+ IV. Rest assured, we do not add preservatives to your custom-made IV drip – we use natural ingredients only, and your nutritional drip is freshly blended in-house. All IV sessions are monitored by our health team – after all, safety is crucial to us! Our team consists of a functional naturopathic doctor, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and more. Our clinicians have diverse experiences in the health care industry, so we’re adept at tailoring various treatment modalities, including conventional and naturopathic medicine, nutritional injection treatments (i.e. vitamin D injections), psychotherapy, acupuncture, holistic nutrition, and more. 

All treatments from the TFMC, including IV nutrient therapy, are adapted with the principles of functional medicine. This means that your treatment plan is uniquely planned for your biology only!

Experience our functional approach to wellness to revive energy levels and combat stress. Take your first step now – all you need to do is call us to book your initial visit for IV therapy in Toronto.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

References

Dolsen EA, Crosswell AD, Prather AA. Links Between Stress, Sleep, and Inflammation: Are there Sex Differences? Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2019 Feb 7;21(2):8. doi: 10.1007/s11920-019-0993-4. PMID: 30729328; PMCID: PMC6426453. 

“Inflammation” from the Cleveland Clinic, reviewed March 22, 2024, viewed on September 2, 2024. 

Jimenez, M. P., DeVille, N. V., Elliott, E. G., Schiff, J. E., Wilt, G. E., Hart, J. E., & James, P. (2021). Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094790 

Kaufmann, F. N., Gazal, M., Mondin, T. C., Cardoso, T. A., Quevedo, L. Á., Souza, L. D., Jansen, K., Braganhol, E., Oses, J. P., Pinheiro, R. T., Kaster, M. P., Da Silva, R. A., & Ghisleni, G. (2015). Cognitive psychotherapy treatment decreases peripheral oxidative stress parameters associated with major depression disorder. Biological Psychology, 110, 175-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2015.08.001

Liu, Y., Wang, Y., & Jiang, C. (2017). Inflammation: The Common Pathway of Stress-Related Diseases. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11, 273283. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00316

Maydych, V. (2019). The Interplay Between Stress, Inflammation, and Emotional Attention: Relevance for Depression. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00384