What is inflammation?
Inflammation is your body's response to injury or infection. It's a natural process that helps protect and heal damaged tissue. When you get a cut or sprain your ankle, the affected area may become red, swollen, hot, and painful. These are signs of acute or short-term inflammation triggered by the immune system sending white blood cells, proteins, fluids to the site of injury.
Key aspects of inflammation:
- Causes: Injuries, infections, toxins, autoimmune reactions
- Purpose: Protect and heal damaged tissue
- Signs: Redness, swelling, heat, pain, loss of function
Inflammation occurs in two forms:
- Acute inflammation starts rapidly and lasts for a short time as the body heals damaged tissue. Signs include redness, swelling, heat, pain and loss of function.
- Chronic inflammation persists over a longer term, resulting from failure to eliminate whatever is causing the issue in the first place. This type of inflammation is associated with diseases like arthritis, heart disease and cancer.
Managing inflammation is crucial for reducing risk of chronic disease and improving wellbeing. Strategies include:
- Treating underlying infections
- Improving diet - increasing fruits, vegetables, omega-3s
- Reducing toxins - quitting smoking, minimizing pollution
- Trying anti-inflammatory products - turmeric, CBD oil, fish oil