The Blazing Truth About Inflammation

Your Body’s Firefighting Response

When your body is under attack, it responds with a fiery passion. Meet inflammation, the immune system’s defense mechanism that kicks in to protect and heal you. It’s a vital process that saves the day, but sometimes it can get out of control, leading to chronic diseases.

The Two Faces of Inflammation

There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is a short-term response to injury or infection, while chronic inflammation is a long-term process that can last months or years.

Acute Inflammation: The Hero

Acute inflammation is your friend. When you’re injured or infected, it’s the immune system’s way of fighting back. The resulting symptoms, such as swelling, heat, redness, pain, and reduced function, may not feel great, but they’re a sign that your body is working to heal itself.

Chronic Inflammation: The Villain

Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is a physical response to illness or abnormal immune system responses. It can lead to a range of symptoms, including pain, fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. Chronic inflammation has been linked to many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Recognizing Inflammation

Inflammation causes cells to release certain chemicals, known as inflammatory markers. A blood test can help determine if inflammation is present. The C-reactive protein (CRP) test is one option, which measures the level of CRP in the blood, a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation.

Causes of Inflammation

Inflammation can be triggered by:

• injury
• infection
• exposure to harmful substances
• autoimmune disorders
• genetic defects
• oxidative stress

Risk Factors for Chronic Inflammation

Certain risk factors can increase your likelihood of developing chronic inflammation, including:

• age
• fat tissue
• consuming saturated fats, trans fats, and refined sugar
• cigarette smoking
• low sex hormones
• stress
• sleep disorders

The Connection to Psychiatric Disorders

Research suggests a link between immune dysfunction and inflammation and psychiatric disorders, such as:

• major depressive disorder
• schizophrenia
• bipolar disorder
• autism spectrum disorders
• posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Autoinflammatory Diseases

Autoinflammatory diseases cause the immune system to attack your own body instead of viruses, bacteria, or damaged cells. Examples include:

• Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF)
• Neonatal Onset Multisystem Inflammatory disease (NOMID)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Periodic Syndrome (TRAPS)

Symptoms of Inflammation

One of the key symptoms of acute inflammation is pain, which can be caused by trauma to your flesh. Chronic inflammation may affect joints or create byproducts that cause tissue damage and chronic pain.

Treating Inflammation

Inflammation doesn’t always require treatment, but when it does, there are steps you can take. For acute inflammation, doctors may recommend:

• medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, corticosteroids
• applying ice

For chronic inflammation, lifestyle and diet changes are often recommended.

Dietary Changes

Eating an anti-inflammatory diet can help reduce chronic inflammation. This includes:

• eating a low glycemic diet
• avoiding refined sugars, saturated fats, and trans fats
• consuming more fruits, vegetables, fiber, nuts, and green and black tea

Herbs and Supplements

Certain herbs and supplements, such as turmeric, ginger, and rosemary, have anti-inflammatory properties and may be beneficial in reducing inflammation.