Inflammation – Is It Really Bad? Myths Dispelled

Inflammation has become a very popular term. Every other person is talking about it. New sources have said that it is the biggest cause of death. All deadly diseases like heart attack, stroke, and cancer have a link to inflammation.

First off, no source of information, including the internet, is enough to tell you the depth of a medical term. It is not a tiny thing. Further, the information you come across about inflammation will likely be suitable only in that particular situation.

From that small piece of information, you cannot straightaway conclude anything about inflammation. This blog will tell you what it is, how deadly it is, what you can do to reduce it, and its misconceptions.

What is inflammation?

It is a physical condition when your part of the body becomes red, swollen, hot, and painful as a response to injury, allergy or infection. For instance, when a pathogen enters your body and hurts a tissue, your immune system will immediately make an inflammatory response.

Your body will release a chemical known as histamine in your blood that causes blood vessels to leak fluid into the damaged tissue, which results in swelling. This is how your body isolates that foreign invader to prevent other cells and tissues from being affected.

There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic.

The former is an inflammatory response to sudden damage. For instance, you cut your finger. Your immune system will use inflammatory cells to work on that area to heal it quickly. In other words, you can say that acute inflammation is an attempt to recoup your health.

The latter causes harm. This kind of inflammation does not heal and cause other medical problems. There could be various reasons for chronic inflammation. For instance, acute inflammation can turn to chronic inflammation when bacteria cells start working on it and you delay the medication or treatment. Other examples include long-term exposure to pollutants and autoimmune disorder that kills healthy cells or keeps sending inflammatory cells even if there is no harm.

Studies have also discovered that chronic inflammation is also linked with chronic diseases like type II diabetes, obesity, cancer, chronic stress or depression, and certain infections.

What is responsible for it?

Whether it is acute or chronic, immune cells are involved. Your immune system is responsible for fighting off invaders. As soon as your immune system recognises something wrong entering your body, it will immediately be on guard to make inflammatory responses.

Depending on the location and the severity of damage will determine how long this will continue and what kind of cells will be used. Various immune cells come into action, including lymphocytes, and each cell has its own role in warding off the invader, creating anti-bodies, and removing dead cells.

Myths to be dispelled

It is not always bad. In fact, even if you had a chance to quash it, though not possible completely, you would not want to. Without it, your body will never be able to fight against allergens and foreign invaders effectively.

Acute inflammation in your body is a natural way for your immune system to respond to heal the damage. The problem occurs when the inflammation does not heal. Since people do not know much about it, they have begun believing some myths. Here are some myths about it that you must debunk right away:

• It is the cause of diseases

It is true but to some extent. Various diseases cause inflammation, like diabetes. Your poor lifestyle can also be responsible for causing it. For instance, smoking and a diet high in refined carbs cause it.

However, there are some diseases caused by inflammation. For instance, GERD patients can have inflamed oesophagus that, if not healed, can cause oesophageal cancer. Inflammation, in some cases, cause serious health problems in the long run, but it will never be a direct cause of a certain disease.

• It will show symptoms

When you cut your finger using a knife, you see redness over there, and after a couple of days, you see the wound has gone. It does not mean that every time when your body is inflamed inside, it will show symptoms.

There are certain conditions when you know that your body is inflamed from inside, for instance, in the case of rheumatoid arthritis. This is because your joints are swollen and painful, and it is difficult for you to stand, walk and cross your legs. Sometimes inflammation in your body does not leave any symptoms. For instance, your body will unlike leave any symptoms in the case of an inflamed oesophagus.

• Anti-inflammatory diets can prevent it and related diseases

Undoubtedly, a healthy diet will keep you healthy, but no research has proved that foods that have anti-inflammatory properties have any role in reducing the impact of inflammation. In fact, there is no sort of diet that aims to subjugate it completely.

Introducing certain changes to your lifestyle can help improve your overall health. For instance, you should eat a balanced diet. Try to get all nutrients from your food, as nutritional deficiency can weaken your immune system. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and avoid caffeinated drinks and refined carbs like cookies, pastries, pizza, etc.

Manage your stress because it kills immune cells. You can also become the victim of autoimmune disorders. Your immune system will be on fight mode even if there is no harm from outside.

The bottom line

It is impossible to quell inflammation. A healthy body releases an inflammatory response to any foreign invaders to protect cells and tissues from being affected. However, certain conditions enfeeble your body to heal quickly, which turns to chronic one.

Though you cannot control how your body works, you can control your lifestyle. With the help of a healthy lifestyle, you can keep diseases at bay. Many people apply for 100% guaranteed loans in the UK to fund their expensive medical treatments. You can avoid them by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Inflammation is not bad as long as it is not chronic. It can cause various medical conditions in the long run. You cannot control it, but you can minimise it by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.