The Inflammation Equation: How Sugar, Stress, and Sleep Fuel Chronic Pain”
- Melanie Ptacek
- May 22
- 1 min read
Pain is often a downstream result of systemic inflammation. Key culprits? Sugar, stress, and sleep deprivation. Lifestyle interventions that target these areas reduce pain and improve well-being. Children, interestingly, follow an anti-inflammatory lifestyle by default.
Details:
Refined sugar increases pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha, linked to heightened pain perception (Nutrients, 2017).
Sleep deprivation amplifies pain sensitivity and decreases pain inhibition via impaired descending modulation pathways (Journal of Neuroscience, 2019).
Chronic psychological stress dysregulates cortisol, prolonging inflammation and sensitizing pain circuits.
Kids sleep 10–12 hours, nap when needed, and (usually) express and process emotions freely — their physiology supports healing.
Adults can follow suit with consistent bedtimes, reduced processed sugar, and mindfulness practices to buffer stress.
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