Some people do everything they are told to support their health and still do not feel well.
They eat carefully, manage stress, and work with qualified practitioners, yet symptoms linger. Fatigue does not lift. Sleep remains unrefreshing. Brain fog becomes part of daily life. In many cases, the missing variable is the environment they spend most of their time in.
Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, often referred to as CIRS, is a term used to describe a pattern of ongoing immune activation that may be influenced by repeated environmental exposure. For some individuals, the home becomes one of those contributing factors.
What CIRS Describes
CIRS refers to a state in which the immune system remains activated instead of returning to baseline. Rather than resolving inflammation after a trigger passes, the body stays in a defensive mode.
Research associated with Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker suggests that a subset of the population has genetic traits that affect how efficiently certain environmental stressors are recognized and cleared. Estimates commonly cited suggest that roughly 20 to 25 percent of people may have increased susceptibility.
This helps explain a pattern many households notice. One person becomes unwell while others living in the same environment feel relatively unaffected.
People differ in how their immune systems respond to exposure. Some adapt and clear stressors efficiently. Others continue to mount an inflammatory response, even when exposure levels are low. Factors such as genetics, overall health, past exposures, and nervous system regulation all influence this response.
This does not mean the environment is harmless for everyone else, or that the person experiencing symptoms is imagining the problem. It reflects normal biological variability in how bodies respond to the same inputs.
CIRS is not a single diagnosis that applies uniformly. It describes a response pattern that helps explain why identical environments can affect people differently.
Common Symptoms Often Seen With Chronic Inflammation
One reason CIRS is difficult to recognize is that symptoms are broad and can shift over time. Many are subtle at first and do not point clearly to a single cause.
People experiencing chronic inflammatory patterns may notice combinations of the following:
Energy and Cognition
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Persistent fatigue that does not improve with rest
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Afternoon energy crashes
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Brain fog or slowed thinking
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Difficulty concentrating or finding words
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Short term memory issues
Sleep and Nervous System
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Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
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Unrefreshing sleep despite adequate time in bed
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Feeling wired at night but exhausted during the day
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Heightened startle response
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Difficulty relaxing or calming down
Head, Sinus, and Sensory
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Chronic sinus congestion or pressure
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Frequent headaches or migraines
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Sensitivity to light, sound, or strong smells
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Visual strain or eye discomfort
Mood and Emotional Regulation
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Anxiety without a clear trigger
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Irritability or mood swings
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Low stress tolerance
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Feeling emotionally flat or overwhelmed
Musculoskeletal and Physical
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Joint pain or stiffness
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Muscle aches or weakness
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Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
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Temperature regulation issues such as feeling unusually cold or hot
Immune and Inflammatory
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Frequent colds or infections
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Slow recovery from illness
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Inflammatory skin issues
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Increasing food sensitivities
Digestive and Systemic
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Bloating or digestive discomfort
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Changes in appetite
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Increased sensitivity to alcohol or certain foods
These symptoms are not specific to CIRS and do not confirm a diagnosis. They reflect how the body can behave when regulatory systems remain under ongoing stress.
How the Home Can Contribute
For susceptible individuals, repeated low level exposure often matters more than a single high dose event.
Homes may contain multiple environmental stressors, including:
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Moisture problems and mold related particles
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Poor ventilation and elevated indoor pollutants
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Chemical off gassing from building materials and furnishings
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Electrical and EMF exposure, particularly in sleeping areas
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Lighting that disrupts circadian rhythm and sleep quality
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Contaminants in drinking and bathing water
None of these automatically cause illness. Together, however, they can increase the overall inflammatory load on the body.
Why Environmental Factors Are Often Evaluated Early
In many clinical approaches, environmental testing is one of the early steps a provider may recommend when chronic inflammation is suspected.
The reasoning is straightforward. If ongoing exposure is present, treatment alone may not fully resolve symptoms.
This does not mean every home is unsafe or that every abnormal test result is clinically meaningful. It means the environment is often evaluated alongside symptoms, labs, and medical history to determine whether it could be contributing to persistent immune activation.
Identifying environmental stressors is not a substitute for medical care. It is one part of a broader effort to reduce the total burden on the body.
A More Practical Way to Think About It
Rather than focusing on labels or diagnoses, many people find it more useful to ask a simpler question.
Is the home supporting recovery, or adding stress that the body has to manage every day?
Homes that support health tend to have:
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Controlled moisture and good airflow
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Clean, well ventilated air
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Thoughtful lighting that supports sleep
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Low chemical load from finishes and products
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Managed electrical exposure
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Clean, filtered water
Improving these factors does not replace medical treatment. It can remove obstacles that make healing more difficult.
If This Resonates
If you are dealing with persistent symptoms and suspect your environment may be playing a role, understanding your home is a practical place to start.
You can apply for a home assessment or book a virtual consultation with Ryan to talk through your concerns and determine which environmental factors may be most relevant in your situation.
The goal is clarity and informed decision making.
--> Apply for an Assessment
--> Book a Virtual Consultation with Ryan
