How to Know if Your Inflammation Levels Are High

Inflammation is one of the body’s most powerful protective tools. When you cut your finger or fight a virus, your immune system sends an immediate response to repair damage and keep you safe. This short-term (acute) inflammation is normal and healthy.

But when inflammation stays “switched on” longer than it should, it shifts from protective to problematic. This chronic inflammation can quietly influence hormones, digestion, metabolism, mood, and the immune system. For women with autoimmune conditions, staying aware of inflammation levels is essential for preventing flare-ups, preserving energy, and supporting long-term health.

What Inflammation Does in the Body

Inflammation is essentially your body’s alarm system. It calls in immune cells, increases blood flow, and triggers repair processes. In autoimmunity, however, this alarm system can become overly sensitive, sometimes responding to things that are not truly threats or not turning off when the threat has passed.

Over time, this can:

• Increase tissue damage
• Contribute to flare cycles
• Exhaust the immune and hormonal systems
• Drain energy and worsen brain fog
• Affect gut function and nutrient absorption

This is why knowing your inflammation status is so important. It gives you a clearer map of what your body needs.

Signs Your Inflammation May Be High

Some symptoms are obvious. Others are subtle and often mistaken for “just being busy,” “getting older,” or “stress.” Below are signs I look for clinically.

More Obvious Signs

• Joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
• Digestive issues such as bloating, diarrhea, or constipation
• Skin flare-ups including eczema, psoriasis, rashes, or acne
• Fatigue that does not improve with rest
• Fever or feeling flu-like without being sick

Less Obvious Signs

• Brain fog or trouble concentrating
• Unexplained mood changes, irritability, or anxiety
• Worsening PMS or perimenopause symptoms
• Waking unrefreshed or disrupted sleep
• Headaches or migraines
• Weight changes, such as difficulty losing weight or sudden gain
• Food sensitivities becoming more noticeable
• Feeling puffy or swollen, especially in the face or hands
• Increased sensitivity to stress or feeling more reactive than usual

Tests That Can Help Identify Inflammation

While symptoms tell part of the story, lab testing helps us understand the bigger picture. Some of the tests I use with patients include:

Screening Tests

• CRP (C-Reactive Protein): A marker of silent, chronic inflammation.
• ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate): Helps assess general inflammatory activity.
• CBC (Complete Blood Count): Can show white blood cell and immune activation patterns.
• Ferritin: Often thought of as an iron marker, but it can also rise with inflammation.

When Autoimmunity Is Suspected

• ANA Panel (Antinuclear Antibodies)
• Thyroid antibodies (TPO, TgAb)
• Tissue-specific antibodies depending on symptoms

Functional Testing (When Appropriate)

• Comprehensive stool analysis to evaluate gut inflammation and immune activity
• Nutrient testing including Vitamin D, B12, zinc, and omega-3s that play key roles in inflammation pathways
• Blood sugar and insulin markers, an often-overlooked driver of inflammation

Testing helps us understand what is driving inflammation, how severe it is, and what we should prioritize in your care plan.

Why This Matters for Autoimmune Healing

Inflammation is not the enemy. It is information. When we understand what is fueling it, we can address root causes instead of just chasing symptoms.

This is the foundation of my Beyond Autoimmunity Method, where we look at four key pillars that influence inflammation:

• Gut health
• Mitochondrial function (your energy systems)
• Hormonal balance
• Immune regulation

By calming inflammation through these systems, women often experience more energy, fewer flares, reduced pain, clearer thinking, and a greater sense of control over their health.

Ready to Understand Your Inflammation More Deeply?

If you are noticing several of the symptoms above or you suspect your inflammation levels may be contributing to flare-ups, fatigue, or hormonal shifts, this is exactly what the Beyond Autoimmunity Method was designed to help with.

We will uncover what is driving your inflammation, support the pathways that keep your immune system balanced, and help you feel more grounded, resilient, and in control of your health.