We have all had inflammation. An aching back or shoulder, a sore throat, perhaps a bug bite.

Very generally speaking, inflammation is part of the body’s immune system response. Inflammation occurs as a response to an irritant. The irritant can be associated with an injury, infection, systemic condition or over use of that organ or part.

Diseases or medical conditions that cause inflammation often have a name ending in “-itis.” For example: 

• Cystitis: an inflammation of the bladder 

• Bronchitis: an inflammation of the bronchi

• Otitis media: an inflammation of the middle ear 

• Dermatitis: a disease where the skin is inflamed

When an inflammation occurs in your body, many different immune system cells are involved. Inflammation is a necessary part of the body's response to tissue injury and other irritants causing inflammation. However prolonged or excessive inflammation can also be damaging and part of a disease process. That is why limiting and controlling the inflammatory process is so important.

Inflammation can be categorized as acute lasting several days. Subacute lasting 2-6 weeks or Chronic inflammation that can last for months or years. 

There are five common symptoms that may be signs of acute inflammation:

1. Redness

2. Heat

3. Swelling

4. Pain

5. Loss of function

   • Examples of a loss of function include not being able to move an inflamed joint properly, having a worse sense of smell during a cold, or finding it more difficult to breathe when you have bronchitis.

These signs are not always present. Sometimes inflammation is “silent,” without obvious symptoms. A person may also feel tired, generally unwell, and have a fever.

In some cases the immune system mistakenly fights against the body’s own cells and tissues, causing harmful inflammations. This reaction can lead to autoimmune diseases. These include, for example:

• Rheumatoid arthritis, where many joints throughout the body are permanently inflamed

• Multiple Sclerosis, a condition affecting nerve tissue. 

• Inflammatory bowel diseases such as  Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis

Factors that may increase the risk of chronic inflammation include:

• older age

• obesity

• a diet that is rich in unhealthful fats and added sugar

• smoking

• hormone imbalance

• stress

• sleep problems

Treatment 

Treatment of inflammation will vary widely depending on several factors. One is the duration of the inflammation- whether it is acute, subacute or chronic. Another is identifying and removing or treating the underlying cause.   

-Be Well, Dr. D

Sources

• InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. What is an inflammation? 2010 Nov 23 [Updated 2018 Feb 22]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279298/

• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248423