Inflammation and Immunity
Whenever there’s inflammation, pain, and swelling, you know there’s something wrong in your body. You may have been injured or exposed to pathogens, and inflammation is one of the obvious signs that the body’s immune system is at work.
Inflammation is the immediate response of the body to protect itself from further harm from viruses, bacteria, pathogens, and other foreign objects like a splinter. As part of the immune response, the body sends immune cells to the site of the injury, which causes inflammation during the healing process.
In an acute (immediate and temporary) situation, inflammation is a good thing, although you may experience pain, swelling, warmth, and sometimes, some loss of function. A normal inflammation response will disappear as soon as the injury has been healed. When it goes out of control, however, it leads to chronic inflammation that lasts for more than six weeks and can end up being a daily part of a sufferer’s existence.
Here are the common illnesses that can cause inflammation as the body’s immune system reacts.
Inflammation and Allergies
When the body is exposed to substances or objects that it considers foreign, it causes the immune system to react. Usually, these substances are harmless, such as pollen, pet dander, some foods, mold, and latex. Sometimes the response by the immune system is disproportionately severe and causes an allergic reaction.
Allergens prompt the immune system to release allergic antibodies and produce chemicals called histamine to be released to the bloodstream. Histamines then cause inflammation in body tissues, including swelling of the nose’s lining and the eyes’ protective tissue, causing itching, sneezing, and watery eyes.
Some allergies can lessen in severity or disappear as you age, while others can be a permanent part of your life. In some cases, allergies can be severe and life-threatening. They will require medications, such as anti-inflammatory agents, antihistamines, and decongestants.
Inflammation and Common Colds
Cold is a common illness that people can contract two to three times in a year, particularly during winter and spring. It’s caused by respiratory viruses, such as rhinoviruses. When you’re infected with a cold virus, it causes inflammation in the membranes of the throat and nose as the immune system tries to fight infection.
It can also lead to a runny nose or nasal congestion, sneezing, sore throat, cough, mild fever, slight headache, and body pains. There’s no cure for a cold, but those affected usually recover within seven to ten days. To feel better as your body works through it, you should rest as much as possible and drink plenty of fluids. You can also take medications to ease the symptoms.
Inflammation and Headaches
There are different types of headaches, the most common of which are primary headaches or those that are not due to underlying conditions. Migraine, tension, and cluster headaches are primary headaches. When there’s an irritation in the structure surrounding the brain, from the neck area and up, it can cause inflammation and headache.
Headaches can also be signs of more severe underlying conditions and immune system disorders. These include meningitis, encephalitis, hypertension, glaucoma, and sinus infection. Headaches can also result from dehydration, overuse of medications, and alcohol consumption.
Recent studies have been trying to establish clearer connections between headaches, the immune system, and the inflammatory response. Results have been promising, which could pave the way for better treatments for chronic headaches, such as migraines.
Inflammation and Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a sign of a compromised immune system, as 70 percent of a person’s immunity is in the gut. An inflamed intestinal tract can cause diarrhea because the intestines cannot absorb enough sodium and water. There are also not enough helpful gut bacteria to fight infection. Diarrhea can also be a result of bacterial infection from contaminated food or water, viral infection, parasites, food intolerance, and even stress.
Diarrhea will usually go away in two to three days. However, you must keep yourself hydrated to avoid other complications. If it persists longer than three days, and you start to experience other symptoms, such as bloody stools or severe abdominal pain, consult your doctor.
Many common illnesses that you experience are often due to inflammation, which is part of the body’s immune response. Inflammation is a good initial reaction because it isolates the damage to guide the immune cells in the healing process.
However, inflammation can also get out of hand, resulting in chronic inflammation and severe illnesses such as diabetes and cancer. There is increasingly more scientific research being done into how to control inflammation, even Alzheimer’s disease/dementia.
It is hoped that this will pave new treatment paths for various diseases, especially those with no cure as yet. In the meantime, take advantage of natural remedies that reduce inflammation.
What you really don’t want is the chronic inflammation that develops when you are overweight, suffer from diabetes, arthritis, and other chronic conditions.
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