Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or harmful stimuli. When a cut gets red, hot and swollen, it is because the body is producing an inflammatory response made up of a combination of white blood cells and chemicals. Their goal is to clean the area, prevent disease by killing bacteria, rid the body of an invader, and close the wound.
The above is a positive example of inflammation, but what happens when there is chronic inflammation? Some of the leading causes of mortality in the United States such as heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, and diabetes have an inflammatory component to them.
In an example of a negative response to inflammation, the body may view plaque in the artery wall as a foreign invader. The body then tries to wall off the plaque by cutting off blood flow to the area. It is possible that a portion of that plaque comes into contact with blood, breaks off and forms a clot. The majority of strokes and heart attacks are caused by plaques and clot formation. Also, higher levels of inflammatory chemicals such as cytokines are seen in people with diabetes, and the role of inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease is currently being researched.
Other less severe examples of chronic inflammation include allergies, rashes, join pain, and headaches.
As a Naturopath, I look at the possible role diet and lifestyle play into someone’s inflammatory risk. What modifications can be made? Anti-inflammatories are big pharma business and research into anti-inflammatories continues to grow. But, some of the pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories come with potential negative side effects. For preventative inflammatory options turmeric is highly regarded, well-researched, option, with also very little-top-no risk factor.
Want more advice, January 15, 2019 I will be giving a lecture on inflammation and treatment from a naturopathic approach. Or feel free to stop by my new office in the massage suite and ask me in person.
Live well,
Dr. Lindsey Nelson