Infections occur when a foreign intruder, whether it be a virus, bacteria, or fungi, enters the body and triggers a reaction. Some infections are mild and don’t cause lasting harm, like the common cold. Others, unfortunately, can become chronic and compromise your long-term health. 

In this article, we’ll discuss how chronic infections can lead to declining health – and what you can do to avoid them. 

What is a Chronic Infection?

An infection may be considered chronic if it lasts for longer than six months, or if it continues to recur after multiple courses of treatment. These infections may continue to weaken your immune system and cause inflammation throughout the body. 

When your immune system attacks a foreign intruder, it triggers the release of inflammatory chemicals. In the short term, these chemicals help your body heal by increasing blood flow to the affected areas. Unfortunately, in the long term, this inflammation can cause lasting harm. Ongoing inflammation caused by a chronic infection can increase your risk of stroke, heart disorders, chronic respiratory disease, obesity, diabetes, and even cancer. 

Protect Your Health Against Chronic Infections

To reduce your risk of complications from chronic infections, protecting your immune system is key. To boost your immunity and prevent chronic infections, we recommend ozone therapy and improving your gastrointestinal health. 

Ozone therapy restores optimal levels of oxygen in the body, helping your immune system ward off bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This treatment is widely used in patients with chronic infections to stimulate the immune system. 

The balance of bacteria in the gut can largely impact your immune system. A diverse, healthy gut microbiome promotes immune homeostasis. When bad bacteria take over the gut, it leads to inflammation throughout the body, making it more difficult to recover from a persistent infection. Eating a variety of fiber-rich foods, increasing your intake of probiotics, and exercising regularly all promote gut health. 

At The Center for Natural & Integrative Health, we offer a combination of naturopathic and functional therapies to help our patients overcome chronic infections. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!