Overview
Inflammation is a medical term that describes the body’s biological responses or reactions to injury and foreign objects (e.g., pathogens like viruses and bacteria, irritants, etc.). In the real sense, these biological reactions are standard defensive mechanisms the immune system engages in combating intruders. Unfortunately, a flaw or drawback in the immune system may trigger the antibodies to initiate acute attacks on the average body cell.
Some inflammations may be silent, while some come with signs like pains, swelling, dysfunction of the inflamed region, redness, sickly feelings, fever, etc.
Inflammations in some body parts may also result in certain chronic diseases and complications. These include Septicemia, thyroiditis, diabetes mellitus type 2, etc. Most of these disorders result from our antibodies’ misinterpretation of normal somatic (body) cells as foreign objects and begin to fight them.
Types of Inflammations
According to its clinical course and ordeal, there are two manners of inflammations thus:
- Acute inflammation
“Acute” is used to describe the short-term experience of inflammation. Most acute inflammations are painful and swollen. It may result from insect stings, illness, and injuries.
You may develop fever, swelling in the affected area, pains, etc. On the Contrary, for cases like malaria, you may not notice swelling as the immune system fights the malaria parasites. However, you will feel sick and weak.
- Chronic inflammation
This type is often associated with long-term disorders like Alzheimer’s, Graves’ disease, thyroiditis, HIV diabetes mellitus type 2.
Chronic inflammation is lifelong, slow, and gradual, yet critical. Chronic inflammation may occur due to the body’s sensitivity to external triggers, autoimmune diseases, long-term acute inflammation, etc. It’s characterized by tissue scarring and tissue death.
Key Facts
- Inflammation is a normal body response to irritants and foreign objects.
- It may be acute or chronic
- Five Cardinal symptoms are swelling, pains, redness, heat, and loss of function in the affected area.
- Not all symptoms manifest in some inflammation. Hence, some are silent inflammation.
- Causes are autoimmune diseases, injuries, age, smoking, stress, unhealthy diets, etc.
- It can be treated by NSAIDs, analgesics, corticosteroids, and healthy diets (fruits, vegetables, grains, spices).
Symptoms
Several symptoms can be observed upon the onset of inflammation, namely,
- Heat
- Redness of the affected area
- Pains
- Dysfunction of the inflamed region. For instance, breathing difficulties in bronchitis.
- Swelling or edema
While the listed above are five main symptoms of inflammation, sometimes inflammation is silent. In this case, you may not notice apparent signs like edema and redness. However, other signs may follow, this includes:
- Feeling unwell
- Tiredness
- General weakness
- Fever
- Headache
- Absent of appetite
- Nauseating felling
Some signs may stay for days, weeks, months, or even years, depending on the nature of the disease.
Diagnosis
The doctor can quickly notice the presence of inflammation upon diagnosis. But where earnest labor is needed is in identifying either the specific cause or the precise disorder/infection associated with the inflammation.
Firstly, your healthcare provider will collect your history and perform a physical examination. They may also approve any other suitable methods.
Some of these diagnoses include the following procedures:
- Blood Analysis
The blood test helps the doctor get information about ongoing activities in the body. Since C- reactive protein (CRP) is released by the liver upon inflammatory reactions in the body. A high level of CRP indicates the possible occurrence of inflammation.
ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) rate in the bloodstream will help determine the activities in the body. ESR is the rate at which red blood cells separate from the plasma; it’s measured in millimeters per hour (mm/hr).
- Imaging test
Results from imaging techniques such as MRI(gadolinium) and ultrasound (with doppler) will assist the doctor in having clear images of the body tissues. Therefore, the doctor can see where the inflammation occurs.
Causes
A study has revealed several causes of inflammation. Even several habits and lifestyles generally contribute to the onset of acute or chronic inflammation.
- Obesity is a risk factor for inflammation. Hence reducing weight is recommended.
- Smoking is harmful. It’s a risk factor for inflammation.
- Biological factors like decreased sex hormones may lead to inflammation.
- Inactivity.
When you are inactive, anti-inflammatory chemicals will not be released into the bloodstream, which is associated with muscular movement.
- Stress factors may increase the probability of inflammation. Autoimmune diseases and certain infections are closely associated with infection. Examples are Hashimoto’s disease, including Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, Graves’ disease, Myasthenia gravis, etc.
Moreover, when you develop inflammation, the immune system releases inflammatory (bradykinin histamine)mediators-substances that these hormones dilate the blood vessels allowing blood to rush to the affected sites via capillaries. Thus;
- Antibodies are released to the affected site.
- The healing process is initiated
- The area turns red
- More fluid enters inflamed tissues
- It causes swelling, which presses against the nerves, thus causing pain.
Prevention
For the prevention of inflammations, there are several measures to practice, such as:
- Weight loss. Practicing regular exercise can help reduce obesity. Other medical programs may be approved for the obsessed.
- Healthy eating lifestyle. When you eat a diet like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, they help prevent inflammation.
- Reduce eating foods like fries, red meat, processed foods, pastries, sugar-sweetened foods, etc.
- Activities like yoga, an excellent sleeping lifestyle, effective stress management, and reduction can help improve inflammation.
- In addition, regularly seeing your doctor will help you observe inflammation on time.
Typical Treatment
Treatment for inflammation will depend on whether the inflammation is acute or chronic. Therefore, treatment of inflammation includes the following.
- NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin can be prescribed to alleviate symptoms like pain, fever, and swelling.
- Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are synthetic drugs used as replacement therapy for normal cortisol hormones. They are often administered to alter activities in the immune system. Therefore, it is used to treat various diseases associated with inflammation.
- Diet Management
Different kinds of nutrition can be taken to manage inflammation. These are fruits, fresh vegetables, fish (e.g., salmon, tuna), oil, certain nuts and seeds, cherries, and berries-for arthritis. Spices can be considered like turmeric and ginger.
Also, you can consider grains like rice and wheat. They help improve weight loss and reduce CRP levels.
- Medicines
Drugs like antibodies, DMARDs-Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (e.g., Rheumatrex), and medications for diabetes may be used to treat chronic inflammations.
Conclusion
Inflammation may be mild at the onset. Meanwhile, the long-term duration of acute inflammation may result in chronic inflammation. Therefore, acute inflammation needs immediate treatment.
During diagnosis, inflammation may be a pointer to an underlying autoimmune disease. Therefore, healthcare professionals will approve a treatment for the disease. Meanwhile, the disease’s persistence may lead to severe complications.
MOST COMMON
