Inflammation - Harmony Hormone Center

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is your body's natural response to injury or infection. It is characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the affected area. Here's a quick overview:

• Acute inflammation occurs quickly and intensely in response to tissue damage from things like trauma, toxins, or pathogens. It's a normal part of the healing process. Signs include:
  • Redness and swelling around injury as blood vessels dilate
  • Heat from increased blood flow
  • Pain from pressure and irritation
• Chronic inflammation persists over longer periods, even without obvious injury or infection. This type of ongoing, low-grade inflammation is linked to several diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

What causes inflammation?

The inflammatory process begins when white blood cells detect harmful stimuli and release chemical messengers like histamine, bradykinin, and prostaglandins. These alarming signals:

• Widen blood vessels to increase blood flow
• Make vessels more permeable so white blood cells can get through
• Initiate pain signals

How is inflammation treated?

For mild inflammation, rest, ice, compression, and elevation can help reduce discomfort. For more severe cases, over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil are often recommended.

If you suffer from chronic inflammation or inflammatory conditions, consider getting specialized care. The expert physicians at Harmony Hormone Center offer advanced hormone testing and customized treatment plans to help clients find the root cause of inflammation. Ask about integrating anti-inflammatory nutrition, stress reduction techniques, and fitness regimens to holistically address inflammation.

What are the key takeaways on inflammation?

• It's a normal bodily response to harmful stimuli
• Acute inflammation resolves quickly; chronic inflammation persists
• Common signs are redness, swelling, heat, and pain
• Mild cases can be treated with RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
• For recurring issues, seek professional advice on lowering systemic inflammation through lifestyle changes and optimized hormone levels

I hope this overview on inflammation helps provide some clarity on this important immune process! Let me know if you have any other questions. Wishing you good health.