Inflammation is your body's response to infection or injury. When tissues are damaged by things like bacteria, trauma, toxins, heat, or any other cause, the body triggers an inflammatory response. This helps the body remove damaged tissue and start the healing process.
Acute inflammation happens quickly and intensely in response to tissue damage. It's characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain - signs that the immune system has been activated at the site of injury. Chemicals like histamine and bradykinin are released, making blood vessels leakier so that more immune cells can get to the damaged area.
Chronic inflammation persists over longer periods of time. This can happen with things like autoimmune disorders, chronic infections, and persistent exposure to irritants. If it goes on too long, chronic inflammation can actually delay healing and cause further tissue damage.
Common conditions linked to inflammation include:
Causes of inflammation include:
If you struggle with ongoing inflammation-related health issues, the caring medical professionals at Vitality Renewal Clinic may be able to help normalize inflammatory pathways in your body. Our integrative therapies help restore hormonal balance and calm overactive immune responses to put you on the path to improved wellness.
Managing inflammation often requires identifying and removing the underlying cause, whether it's food sensitivities, chronic stress, hidden infections, or something else. Lifestyle changes like consuming more omega-3 fatty acids from fish and fish oil, avoiding refined carbohydrates and sugars, quitting smoking, losing excess weight, and reducing stress through yoga and meditation can all help reduce inflammatory responses in the body.
Certain medications like NSAIDs and steroids also temporarily reduce inflammation, but should be used cautiously due to side effects. Curcumin, boswellia, bromelain, omega-3s, turmeric, ginger, devil's claw, white willow bark, and green tea are some popular natural supplements used to calm inflammation as well.
Finding the right combination of treatments tailored to your unique health status is key. I hope some of these inflammation-busting tips help you on your wellness journey! Please don't hesitate to reach out with any other questions.