Inflammation is the body's protective response to irritants, germs, and damaged cells. It helps defend against harmful things, but too much inflammation over time can damage the body's tissues.
When the body is injured or under immune system attack from bacteria or viruses, several types of white blood cells rush to the area. This causes redness, warmth, swelling, and pain - the main signs of inflammation.
Acute inflammation starts rapidly and becomes severe rather quickly. Its main signs are:
Chronic inflammation can last for several weeks or months. It may result from:
If inflammation goes on for too long it can cause tissue damage and pain. Researchers believe chronic inflammation plays a role in the development of heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and some cancers.
The good news? Lifestyle changes like eating anti-inflammatory foods, losing weight if needed, and reducing stress can help lower inflammation. Vital Hormone Clinic also offers customized hormone therapy programs to get inflammation under control by optimizing hormone levels with bioidentical hormones. Contact us today to learn more and get tested!
Now you know the basics of what inflammation is, what causes it, and how it relates to disease. The key is keeping it under control before it causes damage. Lifestyle changes and checking in on your hormone levels can help. Reach out if we can help analyze and optimize your inflammatory response!