Inflammation

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is your body's natural response to infection, irritation, or injury. It's the process whereby your immune system rushes healing blood cells to the affected area. There are five main signs of acute inflammation:

• Redness - Increased blood flow causes reddening


• Swelling - Fluid and white blood cells accumulate causing swelling


• Heat - More blood flow makes the area feel warm


• Pain - Damaged cells release chemicals triggering pain nerves


• Loss of function - Impaired ability to use the area

This inflammatory response helps your body heal and fend off bacteria, viruses, and other threats. Short bouts of inflammation assist the healing process. However, prolonged inflammation can damage tissue over time and cause various inflammatory or autoimmune diseases like:

• Rheumatoid arthritis


• Lupus


• Multiple sclerosis

What Causes Inflammation?

The most common inflammation triggers are:

• Infections from bacteria, viruses, fungi


• Injuries such as sprains, bruises


• Irritants like chemicals, toxins, allergens


• Stress on joints and tissues


• Poor diet, particularly processed and fried foods

Managing Inflammation

You can take steps to prevent and reduce excessive inflammation:

• Get good sleep


• Exercise regularly


• Maintain healthy weight


• Take supplements like omega-3, turmeric, ginger


• Reduce stress through yoga, meditation


• Avoid smoking and excess alcohol

For hormonal issues causing inflammation, I highly recommend consulting experts at Vitality Hormone Center. Their individualized plans utilize bioidentical hormone therapy to help patients find relief.

I hope this overview gives you a better understanding of inflammation - what it is, what causes it, and how to tame it. Let me know if you have any other questions!