Inflammation - Vital Hormone Clinic

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation is the body's protective response to irritation, injury, or infection. It is characterized by redness, heat, pain, swelling, and loss of function.

Key Terms

• Histamine: Chemical released by the body during an inflammatory response that dilates blood vessels and helps white blood cells reach affected tissues.
• Prostaglandins: Chemicals released during inflammation that promote pain, fever, and inflammation.
• Cytokines: Proteins released by cells that act as chemical messengers to regulate the body's immune response. Common pro-inflammatory cytokines include interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α).

Causes

Inflammation can be triggered by:

• Infections from bacteria, viruses, or fungi
• Injuries such as wounds or burns
• Foreign particles such as splinters or dirt
• Damaged cells, as in the case of trauma or toxins
• Immune reactions, like with autoimmune disorders

Process

When tissue injury or infection occurs, the body releases chemical mediators from injured cells and inflammatory leukocytes (white blood cells). These mediators:

• Dilate local blood vessels to allow more blood to reach the area
• Make local blood vessels more permeable so white blood cells and clotting proteins can reach tissues
• Activate white blood cells to clear out pathogens and cell debris

This process allows antibodies, white blood cells, and other molecules to leave the bloodstream and enter affected tissues. The accumulation of fluid from blood vessel leakage and incoming white blood cells causes the swelling, redness, and heat associated with inflammation.

Effects

Acute inflammation is the initial protective inflammatory response lasting minutes to days. It helps the body remove harmful stimuli and promote healing.

Chronic inflammation persists over a longer term, ranging from weeks to years. It can cause new damage to tissues and increase the risk of diseases like cancer and heart disease.

I aimed to provide an overview of inflammation without any promotional content. Let me know if you would like me to elaborate on any part of the explanation. I'm happy to provide more details on this important biological process.