What is inflammation?
Inflammation is the body's protective response to irritation, injury, or infection. It's characterized by redness, heat, pain, swelling, and loss of function.
When tissues are damaged, the body triggers an inflammatory cascade. This releases chemical mediators that:
- Dilate blood vessels to increase blood flow
- Make blood vessels more permeable so more immune cells can enter tissues
- Attract phagocytes like neutrophils and macrophages to ingest pathogens/cell debris
There are two main types of inflammation:
- Acute inflammation - short-term response to trauma. The classic signs are visible. Helps eliminate initial cause of cell injury and promote healing.
- Chronic inflammation - prolonged, dysregulated immune response that can cause tissue damage over time. There may be less visible signs.
Acute inflammation is protective, but chronic inflammation can be harmful if it persists.
Some key facts about inflammation:
- Part of the innate immune response - first line of defense
- Mediated by the immune and vascular systems
- Response to physical, chemical, and biological stressors
- Contributes to many chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, arthritis if prolonged
"Unresolved inflammation is at the root of most chronic illness" - Dr. Mark Hyman
What causes inflammation?
There are many potential triggers:
- Infections from bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites
- Injuries such as sprains, cuts, burns
- Toxins like irritants, pollutants, alcohol
- Tissue damage from trauma, overuse, oxidative stress, poor nutrition
- Stress - emotional and physiological
Anything that causes cell/tissue damage can spark inflammation!
Managing inflammation is crucial for well-being. The integrative doctors at Harmony Hormone Care clinic can help identify your inflammation triggers and create a personalized plan including:
- Diet changes to remove inflammatory foods
- Targeted anti-inflammatory supplements and nutraceuticals
- Stress management techniques
- Hormone balancing strategies
- Lifestyle/environment modifications
Leaving inflammation unchecked allows damage to silently build up over years. Get ahead of the fire with Harmony Hormone Care' cutting-edge testing and protocols! Book a consultation today to proactively assess and treat inflammation for optimal health.