Inflammation is the body’s natural response to outside invaders, such as germs or toxic chemicals. It’s a normal bodily reaction to the healing process, proving your body is working as it should when you fall ill.
But is it possible the silent fire of inflammation could be hurting you and fueling the seemingly endless flames of a migraine headache?
What is Inflammation?
When illness or injury invades your body, your body’s immediate response is to heal itself. Your immune system will send out its first line of defense, inflammatory cells or cytokines, to trap germs and toxins and start healing.
Unfortunately, the signs that your body is healing are not the most aesthetic process. Inflammation can cause flushed skin at the injury site, pain, tenderness, swelling, and/or increased body heat. While they may be initially alarming, these are all signs that your body is working to fight off the invaders and bring you back to equilibrium.
Understanding Chronic Inflammation
While an initial infection caused your immune system to send out the inflammatory cells, a miscommunication caused your body to continue sending out these first responders, despite the initial threat having already healed.
Chronic inflammation is when the process that typically aims to heal and protect your body from outside forces ends up hurting it instead.
Chronic inflammation is often associated with autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health conditions, among others.
Could Inflammation Be Fueling Your Migraines?
Migraines are more than just a headache – they are neurological disorders that cause severe throbbing or pulsing sensations in the head. Migraines can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound, affecting nearly 15% of the U.S. population.
Migraines are a form of neuroinflammation, and chronic inflammation can exacerbate the symptoms during a migraine attack.
According to a medically reviewed article published by Migraine Again, “The levels of cytokines and CRP [c-reactive protein] heighten during a migraine attack. Since most individuals with migraine already have a higher baseline of inflammation than the general population, any further elevation of inflammation can become a problem.”
Hidden inflammation that develops into chronic inflammation can make matters worse for those suffering from frequent migraines and can lead to the development of chronic migraines.
However, hope may come in the form of a full-body MRI scan.
Can an MRI Show Inflammation? How a Full Body MRI Could Provide Some Answers
While many cases of inflammation are just your body’s natural defenses at work, there may be more than meets the eye.
Inflammation can be the sign of a much more serious condition or disease. Attempting to pinpoint the cause of your inflammation can take more energy than you have and cause more stress, which will only worsen it.
But times have changed, and with those changes come new technological advancements.
When undergoing a full-body MRI scan near you, our MRI scanners will take a comprehensive image of your body’s internal structure.
Typically showing as large areas of white or gray on an MRI scan, inflammation can be diagnosed, understood, and addressed with the appropriate treatment method.
And it’s all thanks to a full-body MRI scan.
Discover if Hidden Inflammation is Fueling Your Migraines with MRI Wellness
Inflammation may be fueling more than your migraines – they may be a sign of a more serious condition.
At MRI Wellness, we screen for nearly 500 health conditions across 13 organ systems, providing a more comprehensive view of your body and peace of mind as you progress in your healthcare journey.
We’ve engineered our MRI experience for accuracy, speed, safety, and comfort, ensuring that you can sit back, relax, and let us dedicate the time to your wellness.
Schedule your scan with MRI Wellness today and take the first step towards a life of proactive prevention.
