Inflammation Overview
Inflammation is part of the process by which the immune system defends the body from harmful agents, such as bacteria and viruses. Inflammation refers to the body’s process of fighting against things that harm it, such as infections, injuries, and toxins, in an attempt to heal itself. When something damages the cells, the body releases chemicals that trigger a response from the immune system. This response includes the release of antibodies and proteins, as well as increased blood flow to the damaged area. The whole process usually lasts for a few hours or days in the case of acute inflammation.
Chronic inflammation happens when this response lingers, leaving your body in a constant state of alert. Over time, chronic inflammation may have a negative impact on the tissues and organs. Research suggests that chronic inflammation could also play a role in a range of health conditions, such as asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
Signs and Symptoms of Inflammation
Following are the common signs and symptoms of inflammation:
- Abdominal pain
- Chest pain
- Redness and rashes
- A swollen joint that may be warm to the touch
- Joint pain
- Stiffness in joints
- Mouth Soars
- A joint that doesn’t work as well as it should
Inflammation can also cause flu-like symptoms including:
Causes of Inflammation
When inflammation occurs, chemicals from the body’s white blood cells (WBCs) enter the blood or tissues to protect your body from invaders. This raises the blood flow to the area of injury or infection. It can cause redness and warmth. Some of the chemicals cause fluid to leak into your tissues, resulting in swelling. This protective process may trigger nerves and cause pain. Higher numbers of white blood cells and the things they make inside your joints cause irritation, swelling of the joint lining, and loss of cartilage (cushions at the end of bones) over time.
Several things can cause inflammation, including:
- Untreated causes of acute inflammation, such as an infection or injury
- An autoimmune disease, which involves the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissue
- Long-term exposure to irritants, such as industrial chemicals or polluted air
The above factors may not inflammation in everyone, some cases of inflammation don’t have a clear underlying cause.
Experts also believe that a range of factors may also contribute to chronic inflammation, such as:
Inflammation can cause the body’s inflammatory response which can eventually start damaging healthy cells, tissues, and organs. Over time, this can lead to DNA damage, tissue death, and internal scarring.
All of these are linked to the development of several diseases, including:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Type-2 Diabetes
- Obesity
- Asthma
- Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease
Diagnosis of Inflammation
Inflammation is diagnosed after taking patients medical history and doing a physical examination focusing on on the following conditions:
- The pattern of painful joints and whether there are signs of inflammation
- Investigation of the joints are stiff in the morning
- Any other symptoms
Doctor will also look at the results of X-rays and blood tests for biomarkers such as:
- C-reactive protein (CRP)
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Treatment of Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural part of the healing process, but when it becomes chronic, it’s important to get it under control to reduce your risk of long-term damage. Following are some of the options for managing inflammation include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), and naproxen (Aleve), effectively reduce inflammation and pain. But long-term use is to an increased risk of several conditions, including peptic ulcers and kidney disease.
- Steroids: Corticosteroids are a type of steroid hormone. They decrease inflammation and suppress the immune system, which is helpful when it starts attacking healthy tissue. But long-term use of corticosteroids can lead to vision problems, high blood pressure (hypertension) and osteoporosis.
- Supplements: Certain supplements may help to reduce inflammation. Fish oil, lipoic acid and curcumin are all linked to decreases inflammation associated with diseases, including cancer and heart disease. Several spices might also help with chronic inflammation and inflammatory disease, including ginger, garlic, and cayenne.
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