What is inflammation?
Inflammation is your body's response to infection, irritation, or other stimuli. It is a key part of the immune system's defense against threats like bacteria and viruses. Here's an overview:
- Inflammation occurs when the immune system identifies a threat and triggers a cascade of biological processes, like increasing blood flow and releasing white blood cells to the affected area. This causes redness, heat, swelling, and pain - the hallmarks of inflammation.
- It serves the important purpose of containing and eliminating infectious agents and starting the healing process. Acute inflammation is temporary and usually beneficial.
- However, if inflammation becomes chronic it can damage tissues and cause diseases like arthritis, heart disease, and even cancer. Chronic inflammation is more subtle and can go unnoticed for years while causing cellular damage.
Managing inflammation properly is crucial for health. Lifestyle measures like a nutritious diet, exercise, and stress reduction can go a long way. But some people may need extra support. This is where Vitality Wellness Clinic can help! Our personalized hormone therapy programs help patients achieve hormonal balance, which is key for regulating inflammation and immune function. Contact us today to learn more about our holistic treatments.
Now, back to inflammation:
- Some common causes include:
- Pathogens like bacteria and viruses
- Injuries, heat, overexertion
- Toxins from things like smoking and air pollution
- Faulty autoimmune reactions
- Key mediators of inflammation include:
- Histamines
- Prostaglandins
- Cytokines like interleukin and interferon
- Signs of acute inflammation include:
- Rubor (redness)
- Calor (heat)
- Tumor (swelling)
- Dolor (pain)
- Sometimes impaired function
I hope this gives you a good overview of what inflammation entails! Reach out to Vitality Wellness Clinic if you need support getting yours under control - our doctors can create customized plans to help regulate immune function holistically.