Inflammation is your body's response to irritation, injury, or infection. It's characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. This protective process helps remove harmful stimuli and initiate healing.
When tissues in your body are injured, your immune system releases chemicals that:
- Dilate blood vessels to allow more immune cells to reach the site of injury
- Increase blood flow, allowing nutrients and oxygen to reach affected areas
- Make blood vessels more permeable so immune cells can exit and reach tissues
There are two main types of inflammation:
Acute inflammation starts rapidly and becomes severe rather quickly. Its main signs are redness, swollen tissues, heat, pain, and loss of function. This short-term response protects against harmful stimuli. Examples include a sore throat from a cold or a sprained ankle.
Chronic inflammation persists over a longer time, even without an actual illness or injury present. This low-grade, persistent inflammation contributes to various chronic diseases. Examples include asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and some cancers.
What causes inflammation? Triggers include:
- Infections from bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites
- Injuries such as wounds or trauma
- Toxins from chemicals or drugs
- Tissue damage from extreme heat or cold
- Foreign particles such as splinters
- Autoimmune reactions
In most situations, acute inflammation is beneficial and a normal part of healing. However, too much inflammation for long periods can cause new issues by damaging tissues and organs. Controlling chronic inflammation is key for reducing risk of various diseases.
Ways to help reduce unwanted inflammation include:
- Treating underlying infections or causes when possible
- Getting enough restful sleep
- Exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Following an anti-inflammatory diet with omega-3 foods (salmon, walnuts), fruits and vegetables, and minimizing processed foods, saturated fats, sugars, and refined carbs
By understanding the causes and natural role of inflammation, as well as how to prevent it from becoming excessive, you can help your body heal from illness and injury appropriately.
I hope this gives you a good overview of what inflammation entails! Let me know if you have any other questions.