Inflammation is your body's response to infection, irritation, or injury. When something harmful or irritating affects a part of your body, there is a biological response to try to remove it, known as the inflammatory response.
The purpose of inflammation is to eliminate the initial cause of cell injury, clear out necrotic cells and tissues damaged from the original insult and the inflammatory process, and initiate tissue repair. But sometimes inflammation can become chronic and cause further harm.
Signs of inflammation include:
These are caused by increased blood flow to the area and release of substances that promote inflammation. Some key substances released during inflammation include:
There are two types of inflammation:
Common causes of inflammation include:
If you are experiencing signs of chronic inflammation or inflammation that doesn't get better with typical home treatment, you may need to see a doctor. Tests like blood tests, imaging tests, biopsies, etc. may be done to determine the cause.
Treatment depends on the cause but may include rest, ice, medicines like NSAIDs, steroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), TNF inhibitors, antibiotics, surgery, etc.
At Hormone Health Clinic, we also offer customized hormone therapy to help reduce inflammation and promote healing for issues like joint pain, autoimmune disease, infections, digestive problems and more. Our holistic treatments can help strengthen your body's resiliency and self-healing capabilities. Contact us today for a consultation!