What is inflammation? What are the changes that occur during inflammation?
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When a wound swells up, turns red and hurts, it may be a sign of inflammation. Very generally speaking, inflammation is the body’s immune system’s response to an irritant. The irritant might be a germ, but it could also be a foreign object, such as a splinter in your finger.
This means that an inflammation doesn’t only start when, for instance, a wound has already been infected by bacteria , is oozing pus or healing poorly. It already starts when the body is trying to fight against the harmful irritant.
Causes of an inflammation
Many different things can cause inflammations. These are the most common:
- Pathogens (germs) like viruses or fungi
- External injuries like scrapes or damage through foreign objects (for example a thorn in your finger)
- Effects of chemicals or radiation
Diseases or medical conditions that cause inflammation often have a name ending in “-itis.” For example:
- Cystitis: an inflammation of the bladder
- Bronchitis: an inflammation of the bronchi
- Otitis media: an inflammation of the middle ear
- Dermatitis: a disease where the skin is inflamed
Signs of an inflammation
There are five symptoms that may be signs of an acute inflammation:
- Redness
- Heat
- Swelling
- Pain
- Loss of function
Examples of a loss of function include not being able to move an inflamed joint properly, having a worse sense of smell during a cold, or finding it more difficult to breathe when you have bronchitis .
Inflammations don’t always cause all five symptoms. Some inflammations occur “silently” and don’t cause any symptoms.
Disclaimer : Kindly consult a doctor in person , any advice given in here should only be considered as an opinion but should be in no circumstances considered as a treatment. Thank you .
The inflammation is sort of discomfort that occurs due to internal rupturing of blood vrssels in any part of BODY.IT may have bleeding tendency or oedema that can aggravate the inflammation and leads to vaso constriction of same portion.During inflammation one can have manifestation of mild pain with uneasiness and dysfunctioning of affected part.Thus inflammation can further get worsenened by redness,skin rashes and deposition of fluids.Even though internal inflammation of vital organs like heart,arteries and lungs is more dangerous which can lead to lifethreatning conditions.While superficial inflammation of sensory organs doesn’t have much unfavourable outcomes.Over and above iinflammation of nternal parts can lead to chronic infirmities.While superficial inflammation don’t results in a bigger complications.
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Without getting too technical, a variety of body chemicals are released that cause cell membranes to become more permeable, allowing fluid to leak into the interstitial spaces causing swelling. The body grows abundant new small blood vessels to allow various agents to migrate to the area: white blood cells to fight infection and break down dead or damaged tissue, antibodies to fight infection, and other chemicals to wall-off infections or toxins. You will usually see swelling of the area, redness due to increased blood flow to the area and pain or tenderness at the area. These are considered the three cardinal signs of inflammation – tumor, rubor and dolor (Latin for swelling, redness and pain).
There are many, to be honest.
But first, let us define “inflammation”, because most people are throwing the term around without really even understanding what it means.
Inflammation is a signal from the immune system in the form of biochemicals known as cytokines. The most prominent of these cytokines is TNF-α.
When the body is facing a big injury (eg a sprained ankle) or an infection (eg the flu bug), these cytokines are secreted in large amounts, and contribute to pain, swelling and discomfort. At high cytokine concentrations, the inflammation is said to be acute. When the injury or illness resolves, the immune system produces less of these inflammatory cytokines, and any remaining excess inflammatory cytokines are eliminated to bring the inflammation levels back down to normal.
Of course, there are also situations when the inflammation is milder, but still chronically higher.
Our body comprises trillions of cells. These functions of these cells are optimised at low to near zero inflammation levels.
With chronic mild systemic inflammation, though, the cytokine concentrations in the blood will be perpetually higher (we’re looking at 2–3x the normal cytokine concentration, as compared to acute inflammation, which can be 1000x higher than normal).
Why is this bad for our cell function?
- More TNF-α in the blood means that there is more TNF-α to bind to the cell receptors, which blunt the cellular response to insulin signalling. Hence, cells take in less glucose than normal, which leads to an earlier onset of fatigue, as well as a accumulation of glucose in the blood (which we can otherwise define as Type 2 diabetes, no?
- Higher inflammatory cytokine concentrations can shift the equilibrium between bone formation and resorption (bone cells dissolve back into the blood) to favour resorption. When the equilibrium favours resorption, is osteoporosis not more easily achieved? And can calcium tablets alone prevent osteoporosis, then?
- Higher levels of TNF-α in the brain have been implicated in the premature suicide of healthy brain cells. Now if that ain’t Alzheimer’s, what do you call that?
And these are just some of the reactive cellular changes encountered with chronic systemic inflammation. There can be more out there…
Temporary, incidental inflammation— for example, the kind that shows up around a wound or bug bite— does not increase the chance of diabetes. However, a specific kind of chronic inflammation is now thought to be one of the primary causes of insulin resistance, which leads to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes[1] .
What kind of inflammation am I talking about? This is inflammation at a cellular level, in which particular cells of the immune system like macrophages[2] become chronically activated. They secrete chemicals that cause activation of surrounding cells, and contribute to persistent inflammation within tissues across the body. This constantly inflamed environment leads to insulin resistance in surrounding tissues, and is also associated with high blood pressure and the hardening of arteries in heart disease.
Notably, excess fat, particularly in between organs in the abdomen, is thought to lead to type 2 diabetes largely because it increases the level of this chronic inflammation across the body. Similarly, age, illness, and stress, all of which are risk factors for type 2 diabetes, are thought to act through this chronic inflammation pathway to insulin resistance. So, contrary to popular perception, scientists say that chronic inflammation, not obesity directly, is the cause of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
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There are plenty of natural compounds that reduce inflammation and other strategies that can help. It depends a lot on the nature and location of the inflammation. Some that I use or have researched include:
- Quercetin is a polyphenol found in apples, onions and other plants. It’s a potent anti-inflammatory that blocks mast cell activation and histamine release, so it’s great for quelling allergic reactions.
- N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an amino acid that is a glutathione pre-cursor. Glutathione is your body’s primary antioxidant and much of the anti-inflammatory effects of NAC come from raising glutathione levels. It’s particularly useful for lung infections, autoimmune conditions and neuroinflammation.
- Magnesium, Vitamin D3 and Vitamin B12 are all necessary for keeping glutathione at healthy levels. There’s reasonable evidence that most Americans have sub-clinical magnesium deficiency.
- Peppermint oil is another potent anti-inflammatory – breathing the vapors is one of the better headache remedies out there.
- Red light lasers are interesting, in that they are actually a mild stressor, but this activates your body’s stress-resilience/anti-inflammatory response. It’s useful for joint pain but you also need to be careful not to overdo it, so as not to damage your tissues/cells.
- And of course, cold temperatures (ie. ice packs) cuts inflammation.
It’s also worth noting that you can cut inflammation by avoiding things that are inflammatory in the diet. This would include: sugar, processed carbs, grain oils, other refined foods and food additives. Best wishes.
Usually social stress. The body interprets a lot of the stress we perceive as potentially deadly. Late for work? Your body thinks you’re running for your life – maybe. It depends on how worried you are about it.
Ive heard it stated that the primary driver of inflammation is interpersonal relational stress, lack of connection within your community, and unresolved emotional trauma. I know of one doctor who treated people with chronic pain with a prescription for Journaling. He had great success with lessening the pain of many of his patients.
Chronic undiagnosed (subclinical) chronic allergen exposure is another. Many people are allergic to gluten, soy, sugar, nuts, and eggs. Even minimal exposure can set off the immune system which reacts by initiating an inflammation response. Some people have a exaggerated inflammation response and it can take a very long time for the body to return to normal.
Mold is another fun one or mycotoxins. Some fungus will wreck you. Certain types of algae are not very friendly. These can be in our food – our home – our plumbing..
Some people have what are known as stealth infections from insect bites such as tic born illness or even mosquitos. Many M.D.’s find this controversial but I like to remind people that fibromyalgia was considered psychosomatic – fancy word for all in their head. Lyme too was once considered a “fake” disease and many chronically ill people have been treated badly because doctors and insurance companies have refused to cover these diseases.
Chemical sensitivities can also cause inflammation but – this is basically like another food allergy with a similar process and response by the body.
Insulin resistance and high blood sugar is bad for you and causes inflammation. Poor sleep. Sugary foods. High fructose corn syrup believe it or not. Dehydration. Basically anything bad for you. Electromagnetic radiation. Blue light from bright LED screens after 5pm. Endotoxins in the gut. Nutrient deficiencies.. ect, ect.
I address this by eating a Wahls Diet developed and under clinical study by Dr Terry Wahls – MD. She has used this diet to put her MS into remission and many people have used it with great results. I am losing weight and becoming healthier – and I have had high dietary standards for some time.
I get good sleep and go to bed earlier than before. I try to hit the sack at the same time every night and eat around the same time each day. I exercise three to four times a week. I try to have positive interactions with people and live in a spirit of love and kindness – being gentle with people. I don’t always succeed. I try to help people when I can. I drink pure water. I pray and meditate on Gods Word and things God has done for me. I read my Bible and go to church and sing which has been proven to be good for you.
I hope this helps you- God bless.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation refers to your 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 your cells, your body releases chemicals that trigger a response from your 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 your tissues and organs. Some suggests that chronic inflammation could also play a role in a range of conditions, from cancer to asthma.
How does chronic inflammation impact the body?
When you have chronic inflammation, your body’s inflammatory response 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
How is chronic inflammation treated?
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. Some of the options that have been explored 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 linkedTrusted Source to an increased risk of several conditions, including peptic ulcer disease 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, and osteoporosis. When prescribing corticosteroids, your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks with you.
- Supplements. Certain supplements may help to reduce inflammation. Fish oilTrusted Source, lipoic acidTrusted Source, and curcumin are all linked to decreases inflammation associated with diseases, including cancer and heart disease. Several spices may also help with chronic inflammation and inflammatory disease, including ginger, garlic, and cayenne.
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There are two main types of inflammation: acute and chronic.
Acute inflammation
An injury or illness can involve acute, or short-term, inflammation.
There are five key signs of acute inflammation:
Pain: This may occur continuously or only when a person touches the affected area.
Redness: This happens because of an increase in the blood supply to the capillaries in the area.
Loss of function: There may be difficulty moving a joint, breathing, sensing smell, and so on.
Swelling: A condition call edema can develop if fluid builds up.
Heat: Increased blood flow may leave the affected area warm to the touch.
Chronic inflammation can continue for months or years. It either has or may have links to various diseases, such as:
- diabetes
- cardiovascular disease (CVD)
- arthritis and other joint diseases
- allergies
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- psoriasis
- rheumatoid arthritis
The symptoms of chronic inflammation will depend on the disease, but they may include pain and fatigue.
Ibuprofen will mask the inflammation (which is one of the several symptoms) of a disease. If the disease is bacterial caused inflammation,it will just suppress the inflammation & not kill the bacteria. If the inflammation is caused by auto immune disease such rheumatoid arthritis, the inflammation & pain associated with it will be controlled but not the root cause which may be an overactive immune system & so on…. So to answer your question, Ibuprofen will only mask or lessen inflammation & pain(inflammation and pain are closely related,one usually causes the other) but not the disease. In fact,if taken on a daily basis on a long term , Ibuprofen will certainly damage your kidneys & also predispose your stomach to get ulcers.
