Inflammation is your body's response to infection or injury. It's a natural process that helps protect and heal damaged tissue. When something harmful or irritating affects a part of your body, your immune system releases chemicals into the blood to deal with the threat. This causes blood vessels to leak fluid into tissues, making them swell. Signs of inflammation include redness, heat, pain and swelling.
Inflammation serves an important purpose - it helps the body heal. But too much inflammation over a long period of time is thought to play a role in some chronic diseases. Ongoing, low-grade inflammation has been linked to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancer and autoimmune disorders.
Some common causes of inflammation include:
There are two main types of inflammation:
If you're experiencing signs of prolonged or excessive inflammation, see your doctor to determine the underlying cause. Conditions like infections, autoimmune disease or food sensitivities may need treatment. Lifestyle changes like more exercise, stress reduction techniques, an anti-inflammatory diet, and natural supplements can also help reduce inflammation.