Inflammation is the body's natural response to irritants, injuries, and infections. When inflammation occurs, the immune system rushes in to protect and heal the affected tissue. Inflammation causes redness, swelling, heat, and pain - all signs that the immune system is hard at work fixing the problem.
Acute inflammation happens quickly and intensely in response to tissue damage or pathogens, but subsides once healing begins. This kind of inflammation is a normal part of the healing process. Chronic inflammation happens when the inflammatory response persists over a long period of time, causing long-term damage. This can occur with autoimmune disorders, chronic infections, exposure to toxins or irritants, and more. Chronic inflammation has been linked to many diseases.
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Back to our discussion! To measure inflammation, doctors test blood and tissue samples for high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and other inflammatory markers released by the immune system. They may also check for elevated white blood cell count. Imaging tests can detect inflamed areas as well.
There are many ways to reduce harmful inflammation through diet, stress relief, exercise, and avoiding inflammatory triggers like pollution. Anti-inflammatory medications like NSAIDs provide short-term relief of symptoms. Identifying and addressing the root cause of chronic inflammation leads to the best long-term results.
I hope this informative overview helped explain what inflammation is, its role in the body, and how to manage it! Let me know if you have any other questions. Wishing you good health!