| We all know the obvious signs of inflammation. For | | | | important, if unpleasant, purpose of alerting you to a |
| example, when we cut or scratch a finger in the | | | | problem, and is a warning to you to rest this area of |
| kitchen or the garden, we'll experience: | | | | the body. |
| - Redness | | | | - The vessels become more leaky, which allows |
| - Swelling | | | | easier entry of the following: |
| - Pain | | | | - Leukocytes (neutrophils and macrophages) - these |
| - Heat | | | | render unwanted pathogens harmless. |
| Inflammation is a good thing, but only if it's at the | | | | - Excess fluid, to dilute toxins and help with their |
| appropriate level for the appropriate length of time. | | | | removal from the body. |
| It's simply the body's initial healing response to either | | | | - Large protein molecules, such as antibodies and |
| infection or damaged tissue. | | | | fibrinogen. The antibodies 'eat' the unwanted |
| Inflammation may be caused by: | | | | pathogens, such as bacteria or allergens, whilst the |
| - Physical reasons such as injury, burns, insect bites, | | | | fibrinogen helps to seal off the inflamed area to help |
| frostbite or radiation | | | | prevent the spread of the toxins. |
| - Chemicals such as pesticides, toxic fumes and | | | | So you see, short-term inflammation, lasting only a |
| particles, and hydrochloric acid* | | | | few hours or days, is a good and protective |
| - Microbes such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and | | | | response. Problems arise though when the short-term |
| fungi | | | | 'acute' inflammation becomes long-term 'chronic' |
| - Antigens to which the body is sensitive and cause | | | | inflammation. Chronic inflammation is now known to |
| an immune response (for example, the milk protein | | | | be implicated in so many of our major diseases, such |
| casein, or peanuts) | | | | as cardiovascular, arthritis and even Alzheimer's |
| What Exactly is Inflammation? | | | | Disease. |
| As mentioned above, inflammation is the body's | | | | This will be covered in the next article - Chronic |
| response to damaged tissue or infection. | | | | Inflammation - Consequences of a Good Response |
| This is what happens in the body: | | | | Gone Bad. |
| - Blood vessels leading to the site of injury or | | | | *hydrochloric acid is the stomach acid required to help |
| infection dilate, so that more blood can get to the | | | | digest protein, absorb calcium, and deal with parasites |
| area. | | | | in food or drink. It's vital to our health, and the |
| - Meanwhile, blood vessels leading away from the site | | | | stomach is normally protected with a layer of mucus, |
| constrict, so that more blood is available to go | | | | so that the stomach wall is not damaged by it. |
| towards the site. More blood brings more oxygen for | | | | However, if the acid leaves the stomach (e.g. acid |
| healing. | | | | reflux) it will cause inflammation in areas not |
| - Pain receptors in the nerves are activated, via | | | | protected by mucus, such as the oesophagus. |
| chemicals such as Substance P. Pain has the | | | | |