Inflammation meaning

What is inflammation? Inflammation is the natural response of the body’s immune system to injury, infection, or stress. It is a complex process that involves the release of chemicals from immune cells, blood vessels, and other tissues that help to fight off harmful substances and repair damaged tissues. What causes inflammation? Inflammation is caused by the body’s immune system in response to injury, infection, or stress. When tissues are damaged or infected, immune cells release chemical signals such as cytokines, chemokines, and prostaglandins that trigger inflammation. These chemicals cause blood vessels to dilate and become leaky, allowing immune cells and other substances to enter the affected tissues. Common causes of inflammation include: • Infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. • Physical injuries such as cuts, bruises, and burns. • Allergies to foods, pollen, or other environmental factors. • Chronic diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. • Exposure to environmental toxins, medications, or other chemicals such as stomach acid. • Lifestyle factors such as stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, and smoking can also contribute to inflammation. What are the symptoms of inflammation? The symptoms of inflammation can vary depending on the location and severity of the inflammation, but they typically include: • Redness: The affected area may appear red or discolored. • Swelling: The area may become swollen or puffy due ...

Overview Uveitis is a form of eye inflammation. It affects the middle layer of tissue in the eye wall (uvea). Uveitis (u-vee-I-tis) warning signs often come on suddenly and get worse quickly. They include eye redness, pain and blurred vision. The condition can affect one or both eyes, and it can affect people of all ages, even children. Eye with uvea The uvea consists of structures of the eye beneath the white of the eye (sclera). It has three parts: (1) the iris, which is the colored part of the eye; (2) the ciliary body, which is the structure in the eye that secretes the transparent liquid within the front of the eye; and (3) the choroid, which is the layer of blood vessels between the sclera and the retina. The signs, symptoms and characteristics of uveitis may include: • Eye redness. • Eye pain. • Light sensitivity. • Blurred vision. • Dark, floating spots in your field of vision (floaters). • Decreased vision. Symptoms may occur suddenly and get worse quickly, though in some cases, they develop gradually. They may affect one or both eyes. Occasionally, there are no symptoms, and signs of uveitis are observed on a routine eye exam. The uvea is the middle layer of tissue in the wall of the eye. It consists of the iris, the ciliary body and the choroid. When you look at your eye in the mirror, you will see the white part of the eye (sclera) and the colored part of the eye (iris). The iris is located inside the front of the eye. The ciliary body is a structure behind the...

Recent Examples on the Web He was plagued with elbow inflammation in 2021 and a scapula injury delayed his 2022 season. — Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 7 June 2023 Curcumin is a compound in turmeric that gives the root spice its bright yellow-orange color.7 Still, more research is needed to fully understand curcumin's effects on human health.1 Fights Inflammation The key protective compound in turmeric—curcumin—reduces inflammation. — Cynthia Sass, Mph, Rd, Health, 2 June 2023 But, in the meantime, inflammation can occur—which, according to Shapiro, causes weight gain due to the buildup of tissue and fluid in the body as your muscles try to repair themselves. — Moira Lawler, Women's Health, 2 June 2023 Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, can help decrease inflammation and speed up healing. — Stephanie Kvas, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2023 He was elevated to the starting rotation after Jacob deGrom landed on the injured list in April with right elbow inflammation. — Shawn Mcfarland, Dallas News, 27 May 2023 Vitamin D - While Vitamin D can best be found through exposure to sunlight, the vitamin can help menopausal women with inflammation, hot flashes, keeping the brain focused, depression, bone health, high blood pressure and heart disease. — Melanie Laughman, The Enquirer, 27 May 2023 Reducing inflammation can reduce your risk for chronic conditions, like heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. — Erica Sweeney, Men's Health, 18 May 2023 Phototherapy for Ski...

Anyone who has ever sprained their ankle, cut themselves while chopping vegetables, or been stung by a bee has seen the effects of inflammation firsthand. The pain, redness, swelling, and heat that it produces is the body's defense mechanism to fight off infectious agents like bacteria and repair tissue damage. Less obvious, but similar in process, is the inflammation that results from an infection like a cold, the flu, or COVID-19. Acute vs. chronic inflammation Injuries and infections produce acute inflammation,the body's rapid response mechanism that aims to rid itself of the dangerous invader and return it to a state of balance. A release of warning chemicals sounds the alarm, which draws an army of white blood cells to the site of injury. Some of these cells neutralize the invaders, while others clean up the damage that results from the battle. Acute inflammation typically resolves quickly, within a period of hours to days. Chronic inflammationcan begin via the same process, with the body trying to rid itself of what the immune system interprets as foreign adversaries. But this can become a persistent state, even if the perceived threat isn't truly harmful to one's health. In This chronic kind of low-grade inflammation may continually simmer under the surface. An unhealthy lifestyle that includes smoking, a poor diet, alcohol consumption, sedentary behavior, stress, and weight gain can cause this type of persistent inflammation. Symptoms of inflammation Acute inflamma...

What is inflammation? The inflammation definition refers to the process by which the body's immune system responds to irritants and protects the body from invading organisms (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.) The main features of this response include an increase in blood flow to the affected area and the release of various molecules by the body's cells. The function of inflammation is to protect the body during illness or injury. This lesson will look at the process of inflammation, including the types, signs, long-term effects, and treatments. Bee Sting Reactions Picture a nice summer day at the beach. All is well. The sun is out, the breeze is cooling you off and the water is crystal clear. Then you get stung by a bee, and everything goes haywire. Now your day is ruined. At best, you'll have some local pain near where the bee stung you. At worst, you could die. That is all thanks to a very important part of your innate immune system. Common questions about inflammation include 'can inflammation cause pain?' or 'does inflammation cause swelling?' The answer to both questions is yes. In fact, since ancient times, inflammation has been characterized by five major signs, which are often referred to as the 5 cardinal signs of inflammation. What are histamines and cytokines? Histamine is an important chemical produced by the body during allergic reactions and is an important part of acute inflammatory responses of the immune system. It increases vasodilation and vascula...

The right kind of inflammation is essential to your body's healing system. But chronic inflammation can be a problem. The saying "too much of a good thing" applies to much of life, but especially to inflammation. "People think inflammation needs to be stomped out at all times, but it plays an essential role in healing and injury repair to keep your body safe and healthy," says Dr. Robert H. Shmerling, medical editor of Understanding Inflammation from Harvard Health Publishing and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "Some inflammation is good. Too much is often bad. The goal is to recognize when inflammation is simply doing its job, and when it can potentially cause problems." Signs of inflammation are like a car's dashboard engine light. It tells you that something is wrong. But your response is not to take out the bulb, because that's not the problem. Instead, you look at what caused the light to turn on. "It's the same with inflammation," says Dr. Shmerling. "It's telling you that something bigger is going on that requires attention." Acute and chronic There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic. People are most familiar with acute inflammation. This is the redness, warmth, swelling, and pain around tissues and joints that occurs in response to an injury, like when you cut yourself. When the body is injured, your immune system releases white blood cells to surround and protect the area. "Acute inflammation is how your body fights infe...