What is Inflammation?

Inflammation is a term often mentioned in conversations around health and wellness. It typically accompanies negative undertones as something that needs to be dealt with immediately. This is the first in a series of blog posts that will begin with clarifying what inflammation is, what effect it has on the body, and why it occurs. Then in future blogs we will dive deeper into tangible ways to manage inflammation and aid you in your recovery from injury, however big or small.

Chances are high you’ve experienced your body going through an inflammatory process mediated by your immune system. Inflammation can appear at the onset of a seasonal cold or from a trip that led to a puffy and red sprained ankle. The human body is an intricate system adapted to attack what life throws at it. In the early stage, our immune system jumps into action and creates inflammation to protect us from that seasonal cold worsening or from walking on that sprained ankle; this is acute inflammation. Unfortunately, this inflammation can overstay its welcome and develop into chronic inflammation – a time in which the body’s protective system starts to work against us.

Let’s dive a little deeper into what exactly acute inflammation is versus chronic inflammation. Acute inflammation is the rapid response to tissue injury (e.g., a sprained ankle) or infection (e.g., a seasonal cold) where the immune system acts as the paramedics on scene. This quick response is triggered by the immune system releasing a barrage of chemical mediators, such as histamine, prostaglandins, and cytokines, which cause blood vessels to dilate and become more permeable, allowing immune cells to enter the affected area and fight off any pathogens or heal damaged tissue. This is why acute inflammation is characterized by redness, swelling, warmth, pain, and sometimes loss of mobility. Depending on the extent of an injury or the specific pathogen, this acute inflammation phase can last minutes to days.

On the other hand, chronic inflammation is a prolonged immune response lasting weeks, months or in some cases years. Similar to acute inflammation, there are molecules and chemical compounds released by the immune system that cause a state of inflammation. These immune cells in the chronic inflammatory response include cytokines, macrophages, and lymphocytes that linger around creating a low-grade inflammation throughout the body. This type of inflammatory response can almost be imperceptible compared to an acute inflammatory reaction to an injury like our sprained ankle example.

You can think of acute inflammation as a quick blaze and chronic inflammation as a slow steady burn. The quick acute inflammation phase is a protective mechanism in the face of an injury or infection; however, the longer this inflammation lingers, the response is no longer protective and can actually lead to a whole slew of new issues and diseases. Chronic inflammation has been linked to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and basically any medical condition ending in “-itis” like arthritis.

The reason a chronic inflammatory state is detrimental is because it can cause persistent tissue damage and interfere with the way the body normally functions. Persistent inflammation can lead to altered nerve signaling, which can lead to chronic pain and disability. Additionally, chronic inflammation can limit the body’s ability to heal and repair damaged tissues prolonging the time we are either injured or ill.

All of the information on chronic inflammation can sound very scary and familiar. So how can you tell if you are in a chronically inflamed state? Luckily, our bodies can provide signals and indications regarding our internal inflammation. Common signs and symptoms of chronic inflammation include long lasting bodily pains, chronic fatigue or insomnia, mood disorders, gastrointestinal issues, weight fluctuations, delayed healing, or frequent infections. Additionally, there are medical and blood tests including C-reactive protein levels that can help determine your inflammatory marker levels.

In summary, acute inflammation is a completely normal response to injury or infection while chronic inflammation is a maladaptive response that can lead to persistent pain and chronic disease. Management of chronic and persistent inflammation is imperative for healing musculoskeletal pain and other diseases. Luckily, there are many strategies to reduce and abate chronic inflammation. Follow our blog over the coming weeks for more information and specific tips on managing chronic inflammation to aid you in your healing journey!

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