Questions & Answers

Gut Inflammation: How Does It Present?

I would say that about 60 to 70 percent of people have low-grade inflammation in their gut. A smaller percentage of people have more severe digestive system inflammation. So, you are certainly not alone if you have a problem with a leaky or inflamed intestinal tract.

What’s the difference between a symptom and a sign? A symptom is your subjective experience. For example, if you tell the doctor you are having abdominal pain, that’s a symptom. A sign, on the other hand, is objective evidence of the condition. If your doctor sees a rash on your skin, that’s a sign. If a doctor can see it or measure it for themselves, that’s a sign.

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Signs of inflammation include findings on blood tests. Your doctor might order a test for the level of c-reactive protein (CRP) or high sensitivity c-reactive protein. This protein is especially linked to heart disease, but CRP is also a good indicator of the general level of inflammation in your body. There are other blood markers of inflammation, including ESR. Your doctor could also do a stool test because it will pick up inflammatory markers like calprotectin and lysozyme. Levels of secretory IgA in the stool can be either very high or very low when the gut is inflamed. My video on secretory IgA explains this marker

Symptoms of gut inflammation include gas, bloating, and irregular bowel movements. Inflammation doesn’t always have to present with pain, although it is not uncommon to have some discomfort. Symptoms of nutrient deficiency such as fatigue and brain fog can be a result of intestinal inflammation and leaky gut. A weak immune system that leaves you prone to infections can also be the result of an inflamed gut. That’s why people with intestinal inflammation may also have recurrent infections of the skin, sinuses, and urinary tract.

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