In this episode we talk about inflammation - what it is, the different types of inflammation, and common symptoms/signs to look out for to identify inflammation.What is inflammation?Inflammation is a process by which the body's white blood cells and substances they produce protect us from infection with foreign organisms, such as bacteria and viruses.However, in some diseases, like arthritis, the body's defense system -- the immune system -- triggers an inflammatory response when there are no foreign invaders to fight off. In these diseases, called autoimmune diseases, the body's normally protective immune system causes damage to its own tissues. The body responds as if normal tissues are infected or somehow abnormal.Signs of inflammation are like a car's dashboard engine light. It tells you that something is wrong. But your response is not to take out the bulb, because that's not the problem. Instead, you look at what caused the light to turn on. "It's the same with inflammation," says Dr. Shmerling. "It's telling you that something bigger is going on that requires attention."Acute and chronicThere are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic. People are most familiar with acute inflammation. This is the redness, warmth, swelling, and pain around tissues and joints that occurs in response to an injury, like when you cut yourself. When the body is injured, your immune system releases white blood cells to surround and protect the area."Acute inflammation is how your body fights infections and helps speed up the healing process," says Dr. Shmerling. "In this way, inflammation is good because it protects the body." This process works the same if you have a virus like a cold or the flu.In contrast, when inflammation gets turned up too high and lingers for a long time, and the immune system continues to pump out white blood cells and chemical messengers that prolong the process, that's known as chronic inflammation. "From the body's perspective, it's under consistent attack, so the immune system keeps fighting indefinitely," says Dr. Shmerling.Signs of InflammationSymptoms of inflammation vary depending on whether the reaction is acute or chronic.The effects of acute inflammation can be summed up by the acronym PRISH. They include:Pain: The inflamed area is likely to be painful, especially during and after touching. Chemicals that stimulate nerve endings are released, making the area more sensitive.Redness: This occurs because the capillaries in the area are filled with more blood than usual.Immobility: There may be some loss of function in the region of the inflammation.Swelling: This is caused by a buildup of fluid.Heat: More blood flows to the affected area, and this makes it feel warm to the touch.These 5 acute inflammation signs only apply to inflammation of the skin. If inflammation occurs deep inside the body, such as in an internal organ, only some of the signs may be noticeable.For example, some internal organs may not have sensory nerve endings nearby, so there will be no pain, such as in certain types of lung inflammation.Symptoms of chronic inflammation present in a different way. These can include:fatiguemouth soreschest painabdominal painfeverrashjoint painA person will notice inflammation symptoms after these steps take place.In part 2 we will talk about type of foods that can cause inflammation and how to manage inflammation.Website lsn.fit