Inflammation is the body's natural protective response to irritation, injury, or infection. It's characterized by redness, heat, pain, swelling, and loss of function.
When tissue gets injured, the body triggers an inflammatory cascade. This involves increased blood flow to the area along with migration of white blood cells. Chemical mediators like histamines, prostaglandins, and cytokines get released. These attract immune cells to the site of inflammation and promote healing.
Acute inflammation is the initial short-term inflammatory response. Its purpose is to eliminate foreign organisms, remove debris, and set the stage for tissue repair. Signs of acute inflammation include pain, immobility, swelling, redness, heat, and loss of function.
Chronic inflammation persists over a longer term, lasting for weeks or months. This type of prolonged, uncontrolled inflammation can lead to tissue damage and disease. Chronic inflammation is associated with illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders.
Controlling inflammation is crucial for improving health outcomes. Anti-inflammatory medications along with lifestyle measures like eating anti-inflammatory foods, losing weight, exercising, and quitting smoking can help reduce harmful inflammation.
At Optimal Health Hormone Clinic, we offer cutting-edge hormone optimization therapies to help patients achieve peak vitality. Our highly-trained physicians carefully evaluate each individual and provide personalized treatment plans utilizing bioidentical hormones, peptides, and other modalities to target root causes of inflammation.
We welcome you to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your health goals. Our holistic protocols aim to balance hormones, reduce inflammation, boost immunity, enhance cognition, improve sleep quality, increase lean muscle mass, heighten libido and more!
I hope this overview on inflammation provides some helpful education. Let me know if you have any other questions!