Inflammation: What It Is and What Causes It

Inflammation is a normal immune reaction that your body triggers in response to an injury or illness. It works to protect your body by halting the damage, allowing healing to begin. However, when inflammation becomes chronic it can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms and may even have serious implications. In this article, we will discuss what inflammation is and what can cause it.

What Is Inflammation?
Inflammation is a response from the immune system that is evoked to help the body recover from injury or illness. It is characterized by redness, heat, pain, swelling and a decrease in function. It is caused by the release of cytokines, which are chemicals released by the body’s white blood cells. Cytokines help to recruit additional white blood cells, as well as to release other chemicals, such as histamines, that will further stimulate the inflammatory response. Inflammation helps the body heal as it seeks to eliminate the source of the injury or illness and to restore the body to its homeostatic state.

What Causes Inflammation?
Inflammation can be caused by a variety of factors. One major cause of inflammation is infection and certain bacteria, viruses, or fungi are responsible for this type of inflammation. Injuries, such as trauma and burns, will also cause inflammation to occur. Allergies, autoimmune diseases, and chronic stress can also lead to the body’s inflammatory response. Interestingly, environmental factors, such as poor diet, obesity, and smoking are increasingly being linked to inflammation.

Diet and Inflammation
It is becoming increasingly clear that your diet can have a major impact on inflammation and therefore your overall health. Eating an excessive amount of readily available and processed fats, sugars, and carbohydrates can increase inflammation as much as smoking, leading to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and even cancer. In contrast, diets high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help to reduce inflammation, allowing the body to focus on repair and healing.

In conclusion, inflammation is a normal, healthy response by the body’s immune system to injury or illness and is the body’s attempt to protect and heal itself. Generally, the body will regulate inflammation on its own. However, it can become chronic, leading to illness and even disease. A primary cause of inflammation is infection, such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Injuries, allergies, autoimmune issues, and chronic stress can all lead to inflammation as well. Additionally, environmental factors, such as poor diet and smoking, may cause a prolonged inflammatory response. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help to reduce inflammation and improve your overall health.