| Inflammation is something we've all experienced. Its | | | | When you are injured your body initiates a response |
| major symptoms are: redness, swelling and heat. But | | | | that depends to some degree on the type of injury |
| sometimes other things such as fever and chills are | | | | and where it is located, but in general it is |
| present, and in some cases it may seem like you are | | | | characterized by two major components referred to |
| coming down with a cold or the flu. | | | | as the cellular and exudative responses. In the cellular |
| Inflammation touches many aspects of our life. It | | | | response, white blood cells from the blood vessels |
| plays an important role in our body, and it's not | | | | are rushed to the injured tissue. They are filtered out |
| something we can do without. But even as it | | | | of the capillaries and quickly engulf and consume any |
| protects us, and plays a critical role when we are | | | | foreign objects such as bacteria or cellular debris; |
| injured, it can cause serious problems if it gets out of | | | | they also help to "wall off" the infection to prevent it |
| control. When this happens we refer to it as chronic | | | | from spreading. |
| inflammation. | | | | In the exudative response there is movement of |
| It may seem a little ironic that something so | | | | fluids that contain fibrin and various types of |
| important to our well-being and good health can also | | | | antibodies. Blood vessels are dilated upstream from |
| ruin our health, and even cause death, but it's true. | | | | the infection, and constricted downstream. This |
| Chronic inflammation is something you definitely want | | | | causes a swelling in the infected area. Various types |
| to avoid. It has attracted a lot of attention lately | | | | of particles and cells are involved in the process; |
| because scientists have shown that in one way or | | | | some trigger inflammation, others turn it off. What |
| another it is associated with most major diseases. | | | | you don't want is to have too many that trigger |
| Heart disease and cancer have both been linked to | | | | inflammation, and too few that turn it off. Once the |
| problems with inflammation. In relation to heart | | | | injury is healed and things have returned to normal |
| disease, it can cause coronary blockage, and a heart | | | | the inflammation should go away. If it doesn't you're |
| attack. We've been told for years to keep our | | | | in trouble, and you should do something about it. |
| cholesterol down to avoid the buildup of plaque in our | | | | What can you do? For an answer, let's look at some |
| arteries, but scientist now believe that inflammation | | | | of the major things that lead to chronic inflammation. |
| plays just as important a role as cholesterol and | | | | They are: |
| plaque. | | | | 1. Our genes. |
| Inflammation is also a villain in relation to cancer, | | | | 2. The food we eat, particularly saturated fats. |
| particularly in the initiation of cancer. Things are not | | | | 3. Lack of sleep. |
| as clear here, and certainly not all cancers are caused | | | | 4. Lack of exercise. |
| by inflammation. Nevertheless, some of the cells and | | | | 5. Polluted air and water. |
| chemicals involved in inflammation have been shown | | | | 6. Smoking. |
| to create mutations in DNA that can eventually lead | | | | 7. High cholesterol. |
| to cancer; furthermore, it can also cause pre-cancer | | | | We can't do much about our genes, but we can do |
| cells to become active cancer cells. A few of the | | | | something about the food we eat. One of the best |
| cancers known to be associated with inflammation | | | | anti-inflammation agents is omega-3, and one of the |
| are colon, lung, stomach, esophagus, and breast | | | | best sources of it is fish, particularly salmon and |
| cancer. | | | | sardines. Aside from fish, you should eat whole |
| Many other diseases are also associated with | | | | grains, nuts and seeds, and vegetables and fruit. |
| inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, MS, | | | | Staying physically active is also important, and |
| lupus, emphysema, and gingivitis are all inflammatory | | | | maintaining proper weight; overweight people are |
| diseases. Indeed, any disease with a name ending | | | | much more susceptible to inflammation. Finally, make |
| with "itis" is an inflammatory disease. A few examples | | | | sure you get enough sleep, and avoid polluted water |
| are: bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, hepatitis, and colitis. | | | | and air. |