renee.t.edge This post begins a series on Inflammation in which we explore signs of inflammation, causes of chronic inflammation, diseases caused by inflammation, food that can increase or decrease inflammation, and the role of fatty acids in inflammation.
Inflammation is an ever present issue and effects almost every function of the human body, from gut health, to allergies and even aging.
Acute inflammation is a short term iprocess that comes to an end when the damaged tissue is repaired. For example, if you cut your finger you would see the signs of acute inflammation in action as your body sought to repair that wound. Those signs include redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function.
Chronic inflammation can last years, or even continue throughout someone’s lifetime. Diseases related to chronic inflammation include rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, asthma, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and many more. In these diseases the activation and mobilization of inflammatory agents, for example cytokines and interleukins, occurring over long periods of time cause long term damage to the tissues of the body.
We often heard of cytokines in the discussion of the disease process , particularly as it relates to the idea of a “cytokine storm”. Cytokines are small proteins responsible for signaling between the cells in immune responses. During a cytokine storm, various inflammatory cytokines are produced at a much higher rate than normal. This overproduction of cytokines causes positive feedback on other immune cells to occur, which allows for more immune cells to be recruited to the site of injury that can lead to organ damage.
Most chronic conditions result in excess oxidative damage, which affects all organs and tissues, which in turn negatively impacts immune and organ health. Oxidative stress can occur when there is an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body. The body’s cells produce free radicals during normal metabolic processes. However, cells also produce antioxidants that neutralize these free radicals. In general, the body is able to maintain a balance between antioxidants and free radicals. Much like the way in which metal rusts when exposed to oxygen and moisture, oxidative stress causes damage within the body.
Follow along as the coming posts will be exploring the impact of inflammation on the body, and how you can address it.
