Inflammation

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is your body's natural response to infection or injury. It's the process by which your immune system identifies damage or pathogens and triggers healing.

There are five main signs of inflammation:

• Redness - increased blood flow causes reddening of the skin


• Swelling - fluids flood to the area, causing it to swell


• Heat - increased blood flow makes the area feel warm


• Pain - nerves signal pain to the brain


• Loss of function - it hurts to use the affected area

Your immune system responds by sending white blood cells to the compromised area to destroy viruses and bacteria. This influx causes inflammation.

Once the threat is gone, inflammation normally reduces. However,sometimes it persists longer than necessary, causing chronic inflammation. This can damage tissue over time and is linked to conditions like:

• Heart disease


• Diabetes


• Arthritis


• Cancer

Acute inflammation usually lasts a few days while your body heals. Chronic inflammation can last much longer - even years. It requires treatment to avoid complications.

To summarize:

• Inflammation is a natural healing response involving immune cells and increased blood flow


• It causes redness, swelling, heat, pain and loss of function


• Usually acute and self-resolves when the threat is eliminated


• Can become chronic, increasing disease risk over time


• May result from hormonal issues - consult an expert for testing and treatment

Controlling inflammation is key for preserving health and functioning. Don't ignore persistent symptoms - seek help resolving the root cause. Specialists like Hormone Harmony use cutting-edge diagnostics and therapies to treat stubborn inflammation when lifestyle measures alone prove inadequate.