Signs of Inflammation
By Sara Butler
Working out is good for you, but there's a fine line between working out enough and working out too much. When you exercise excessively, then you're entering a danger zone for chronic inflammation. Not enough recovery time and too much training are almost a guaranteed recipe for inflammation and that inflammation can put your overall health and wellness in danger -- the opposite of what you're trying to accomplish with regular exercise! Here are a few signs that chronic inflammation due to exercise may be a problem for you.
You're Sore All Over
You are familiar with soreness when you kick your workout up a few notches, but when you hit a point where inflammation is creeping in, then you feel as if you've been hit by a truck. The inflammation you're experiencing over your entire body is the type of inflammation you do not want. That's when you know it's time to back off of what you're doing and give your body a rest.
You Feel Puffy
Exercise is supposed to help you feel lean and strong, but if you ever hit a point where you're feeling puffy and swollen in our legs or over your entire body and it doesn't go away, then that's a sign of inflammation. In fact, this is a sign that your body is so inflamed that it's having trouble ridding itself of excess fluids.
You're Sore for Days
Yes, a strenuous workout can leave you feeling tired the next day and a little sore, but that should only last a day or two. Soreness and fatigue that lasts for days and days is a sign that inflammation is high in your body. Make sure to take steps to make things better such as a few rest days and a lot of hydration and healthy foods. If you don't want to stop moving completely for a few days, then take it easy with a walk or a swim. Just don't push yourself; give your body the time it needs to recover.
Your health is important. Even if you're active you still need to listen to your body so you can tell when it's time to take a break or back off your workout routine just a bit. You do not want your body to be in a constant state of inflammation, so pay attention and do what you can to keep it from happening.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Aurora, Colo.