What Is Inflammation?
When someone talks about inflammation, he is talking about the body’s built in the immune system. In general terms, inflammation is a protective response by the body to something harmful or merely an irritant. The immune system responds to a particular injury by releasing anti-inflammatory agents. In case of any damage, immune cells rush to the wound’s site and speed up the healing process.
In case of injury, inflammation is a vital process for the body. During the inflammation process, the wounded area swells and turns red, as white blood cells fight harmful agents and heal the wound. But it isn’t always the case. Sometimes immune system triggers when it shouldn’t.
The concept of inflammation is much complex, as it sometimes damages the body’s active cells. Thus, it often becomes quite difficult to distinguish whether inflammation is good or bad in various health conditions. Usually, inflammation dissipates after the wound or infection is healed up.
So, Is Inflammation Good Then?
Typically, people take inflammation as a force of good, protecting against infections and infections. When the immune system triggers the inflammation process, blood vessels widen, providing space to white blood cells and protein agents to move to the wound site and promote healing. It causes a sensation of heat, reddishness, and swelling. This sensation wears down after inflammation treats the irritation, and the wound protectively heals up. For example, an ankle sprain or a cut of paper naturally triggers the inflammation process. The immune system’s magic trick heals the wound, and the sensation dissipates along with the inflammation.
However, under some condition’s inflammation do more harm to the body than good. It starts and persists for no reason, effecting body organs. Chronic inflammation affects organs and interferes with the body’s biological processes. Immune cells continue circulating in the body in case of chronic inflammation. Perpetuating inflammation or any immune system activity, no matter what, always leave disastrous effects on the body. Some immunity agents affect the brain’s dispatch system by cutting off signals to the cells termed as the synopsis. It is no doubt a helpful activity, but if prolonged, it can become out of control.
What Harm Chronic Inflammation does?
Older people are more susceptible to this scenario as their immune system is less robust. It works slowly and doesn’t wind up at a faster pace. That is a reason older people are more prone to cancer. Physical changes also spark inflammation in various circumstances. Sometimes inflammation proteins hamper cell interaction with insulin. It leads to diabetes as the inflammation process hinders the biological process, which affects insulin sensitivity.
When you are exposed to obesity, toxins, and other stress issues, they can also trigger the immune system. Chronic inflammation responds to these unwanted substances—toxins from cigarette smoke, fat cells in the abdomen area. Blood vessels also rupture from unwanted inflammation. Atherosclerosis is a common example. Inflammation helps kick off the atherosclerosis-the cholesterol-rich plague. The immune system takes this plaque in arteries as a foreign agent and tries to block it, thus hindering a natural body phenomenon. It boosts the chances of rupturing of plaque, which then mixes up with blood and forms clots in the blood that disrupts blood flow.
Combat the Chronic Inflammation
You can reduce and even control inflammation through an anti-inflammatory and healthy lifestyle.
Please take precautions beforehand, because if the chronic inflammation attacks your body, the effects are long-lasting. Unlike acute inflammation, it takes months to heal. So, if you are anxious about your life, go for these tips and advice for a healthy lifestyle to combat inflammation.
- The right choice of food is necessary to sidestep this disastrous chronic inflammation, which leads to various health problems. Make a habit of eating fresh fruits, green vegetables, and fish. These are the vital sources of omega-3s. Omega-3s intake reduces the production of inflammatory molecules.
- Cut back food items that trigger chronic inflammation. Red meat, white bread, and sugary drinks, and junk food must be on top of the food to avoid the list. Dr. Gray says, “An anti-inflammatory diet also limits foods that promote inflammation.” A diet that helps with inflation is one with low saturated fat and high fiber.
- Controlling sugar levels play a major role in preventing chronic inflammation. Limit the intake of carbohydrates. Saying no to white food and products made of white food like white bread, white sugar, rice, flour, and pasta is the easiest way to limit carbohydrates intake. Use meals rich in fiber and proteins like whole wheat bread and whole grains.
- Keeping stress under control is deemed fit to avoid excess inflammation. Stress releases chemicals like cytokine, which is the primary cause of inflammation. You can’t control stress, but you can change the way how you perceive it. Learn to manage stressful situations you encounter in your life. As if you are stressed, chemicals will be released in your body to increase inflammation.
- Above all, one cannot deny the importance of exercise. Your health should be your key priority. Exercise at least once a day as researches say exercise increase anti-inflammatory chemicals in the body. Regular exercise is the ideal way to forestall inflammation.
- Obesity breeds inflammation. If you are overweight, try to lose weight as losing weight may decrease inflammation.
- Beyond that, smoking also contributes to inflammation. The optimal thing you can do to reduce inflammation is to stop smoking. Research shows that there is a significant association between low-level productions of anti-inflammatory molecules.
Chronic Inflammation Silently Kills
Chronic inflammation can be a reason for various medical issues. But we don’t take a gander at the situations from this point of view. We usually wind up the disease inspection, being focused on a specific disease process. Long-term inflammatory conditions contribute to various diseases. It affects the airway, joints, kidneys, blood vessels, and heart, leading to diseases like asthma, colitis, arthritis, nephritis, and many more.
- Cardiovascular Disease-There’s a strong and consistent relationship between inflammation and heart diseases. Moreover, Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory state with low-grade chronic inflammation features, which ultimately leads to heart attack and strokes.
- Asthma-Inflammation constructs airways, making it difficult to breathe due to inappropriate immune response. The lining of airways constricts and swells. Long-term breathing problems characterize it.
- Inflammatory Kidney Disease-Nephritis is also featured by chronic inflammation.
- ·Arthritis-Inflammation in joints causes swelling, stiffness, and pain. If left untreated, it can damage the underlying bone.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease-In this, the large or small intestine gets infected with inflammation, accompanied by severe stomach pain and vomiting. It happens when the immune system triggers in response to harmless viruses and bacteria in the intestine.
What can you do?
Now you know inflammation acts as a shield against foreign agents. Slight inflammation from minor wounds is normal. Ensure to act on the acute inflammation from becoming chronic. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and refrain yourself from making choices that increase inflammation. That means to quit smoking, don’t take too much stress, and eat a healthy diet.