Inflammation: Types, Causes, Diagnoses, Treatment & Prevention

Inflammation is a normal response to injuries and invaders (such as bacteria). It promotes healing and makes you feel better. However, inflammation that occurs in the absence of an injury or invader can injure healthy portions of the body and lead to a variety of chronic diseases.

Inflammation is the process by which your body's white blood cells and the substances they produce defend you against injury or infection from foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses.

Also Read: Neuromuscular Disorders: Types, Symptoms & Treatment

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is your body's response to an illness, injury, or foreign substance. Inflammation is a natural and vital process that helps your body heal. Fever, for example, indicates that your body's inflammatory system is functioning properly while you are ill. However, inflammation can be harmful if it occurs in healthy tissues or persists for an extended period.

When an attacker (such as a virus) attempts to enter your body or you become damaged, your immune system activates its first responders. These are inflammatory cells and cytokines (substances that cause further inflammation). These cells initiate an inflammatory response that traps germs or poisons and begin mending wounded tissue. Inflammation can result in pain, edema, and discolouration. These are signals that your body is healing itself. Normal inflammation should be modest, and pain should not be extreme.

However, inflammation can impact areas of your body that you cannot see.  Inflammatory responses that occur behind the scenes can sometimes help you heal, but they can also be harmful.

What is a difference between acute and chronic inflammation?

There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is sudden and temporary, whereas chronic inflammation may go on for months or years.

Acute inflammation.

This is how your immune system reacts to a sudden illness or injury. Inflammatory cells migrate to the site of injury (such as a cut on your finger) or infection to initiate the healing process.

Infections in different parts of the body can generate sudden and generally short- lived inflammation. Bacterial infections like strep throat, as well as viral infections like the flu, can produce throat inflammation. Other bacterial and viral infections can induce inflammation in the small intestine (enteritis).

Acute inflammation can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on your condition.

Chronic inflammation.
This is when your body continues to send inflammatory cells even when there is no threat. In rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory cells and chemicals damage joint tissues. This causes intermittent inflammation, which can cause significant joint injury.

Chronic inflammation causes mechanisms that might normally protect your body, but instead hurt it. Chronic inflammation might continue for several months or years. You may experience periods of improvement followed by periods of deterioration.

Researchers have connected chronic inflammation to a range of conditions (inflammatory diseases).

What are the symptoms of acute inflammation?

When a certain portion of your body is injured, you may notice the following:

• Discolored or flushed skin.

• Pain or discomfort should be mild and limited to the area of injury.

• Swelling (as in knee inflammation).

• The skin feels hot to the touch.

• Inability to use that body part normally (e.g., limited range of motion).

What are the symptoms of chronic inflammation?

Chronic inflammation symptoms may be more difficult to identify than acute inflammation symptoms. You might have:

• Abdominal pain

• Chest pain

• Fatigue and/or insomnia

• Fever

• Joint pain or stiffness

• Mouth ulcers

• A skin rash

• Depression, anxiety, and other emotional disturbances

• Gastrointestinal (GI) problems include diarrhea, constipation, and acid reflux

• Weight gain or loss

• Infections occur frequently

What conditions are related to chronic inflammation?

Chronic inflammation has a role in the development of many different conditions, including:

• Autoimmune diseases include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

• Cardiovascular diseases include heart disease and high blood pressure.

• Certain cancers.

• Gastrointestinal diseases include Crohn's disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

• Lung diseases include asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• Depression and anxiety are two examples of mental health problems.

• Metabolic illnesses include Type 2 diabetes.

• Neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

• Combined, inflammatory diseases cause more than half of all deaths worldwide.

What causes inflammation?

Injuries and infections usually result in acute inflammation.

The majority of cases of chronic inflammation are caused by environmental factors such as components of your everyday life and toxic exposures. Common causes include:

• Low amounts of physical exercise.

• Chronic stress.

• Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or more, especially if the additional weight is located deep within the abdomen.

• Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance between healthy and bad bacteria in your stomach.

• Eating foods high in trans fat or salt regularly might promote inflammation.

• Sleep and circadian rhythms were disrupted.

• Toxic exposure, such as hazardous waste and industrial chemicals.

• Using tobacco products.

• Regularly drinking too much alcohol.

How is Inflammation Diagnosed?

If you appear to have chronic inflammation, your doctor will ask about your medical history and do a physical examination, focusing on:

• The pattern of joint pain and the presence of symptoms of inflammation.
• Are your joints stiff in the morning? Are there any other symptoms?

They will also examine the results of X-rays and blood testing for biomarkers, such as:

• C-reactive proteins (CRP)
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

Your doctor will seek strategies to treat both your inflammation symptoms and the underlying causes.

Treatment:

How can you reduce inflammation in the body quickly?

 Inflammation does not always require treatment.  In most cases, acute inflammation can be relieved within a few days by:

•  Rest that part of your body.

•  Use ice or a cold pack on the affected area for 15-20 minutes every four hours or so.

•  Giving proper wound care for any wounds, scrapes, or burns.

If you have chronic inflammation, your physician may recommend:

•  Supplements.  Some supplements, such as zinc, certain vitamins, and omega-3, may reduce inflammation and improve healing.  Always consult your doctor before using any new supplements.

•  Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs).  These OTC medications lessen inflammation.  Your doctor may recommend ibuprofen (Advil®), aspirin (Bayer®), or naproxen (Aleve®).  Do not take NSAIDs for more than ten days in a row without consulting your doctor.

•  Corticosteroids.  Your doctor may give you an injection that decreases inflammation in a specific joint or muscle.  Alternatively, they may prescribe oral medicines.  Make sure to follow your provider's directions for taking your medication.

Is prednisone used to treat inflammation?
Yes. Prednisone is a type of corticosteroid. It is prescribed by doctors to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and vasculitis.

Which foods minimize inflammation?

Many nutrients reduce inflammation in the body. These include fatty fish (such as salmon), fresh fruits, and leafy greens, to name a few. You can also utilize spices that have anti-inflammatory qualities, such as turmeric, ginger, and garlic.

Following an anti-inflammatory diet may help in reduce inflammation in the body. An anti-inflammatory diet is a comprehensive, well-balanced eating plan. You prioritize certain meals over others and adapt the diet to your needs.

If you wish to improve your eating habits, consult a dietician. They can assist you in developing the most effective plan for your needs. They may recommend measures such as the Mediterranean Diet, which has been shown in research to reduce inflammation in the body. Alternatively, they may recommend the DASH Diet as a means to lower salt intake while increasing potassium.

A dietician will collaborate with you to create a plan for long-term.

What are some foods that induce inflammation?

Some foods reduce inflammation, while others do the opposite. Here are some meals that cause inflammation:

• Foods with trans fat.

• Fried foods include several fast food products.

• Cured meats with nitrates, such as hot dogs and deli meat.

• Foods rich in salt.

• Refined carbs include sugar, sweets, and white bread.

How can I prevent inflammation?

Many of the factors that cause inflammation are beyond your control. However, you may be able to reduce your risk of chronic inflammation in some instances. You can accomplish the following things:

• Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (such as walking) every week.

• Avoid smoking and using any tobacco products. Consult your provider about resources to help you quit.

• Consume largely fresh or less processed foods while avoiding highly processed items.

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• Limit how much alcohol you drink.

Consult your provider about strategies to reduce your exposure to dangerous chemicals or toxins in the air.

References:

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• Cleveland Clinic: "What is Inflammation?"  “Why You Should Pay Attention to Chronic Inflammation.”

• Razzaghi R, Pourbagheri H, Momen-Heravi M, et al. The effects of vitamin D supplementation on wound healing and metabolic status in patients with diabetic foot ulcer: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27363929/). J Diabetes Complications. 2017;31(4):766-772. Accessed 3/22/2024.

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• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.). What is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? (https://www.cdc.gov/ibd/what-is-IBD.htm) Last reviewed 4/13/2022. Accessed 3/12/2024.

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• National Library of Medicine (U.S.). What is an inflammation? (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279298/) Last update 2/22/2018. Accessed 3/22/2024.

• Furman D, Campisi J, Verdin E, et al. Chronic inflammation in the etiology of disease across the life span (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31806905/). Nat Med. 2019;25(12):1822-1832. Accessed 3/22/2024.

• Sureda A, Bibiloni MDM, Julibert A, et al. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Inflammatory Markers (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5793290/). Nutrients. 2018;10(1):62. Accessed 3/22/2024.

• National Library of Medicine (U.S.). What is an inflammation? (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279298/) Last update 2/22/2018. Accessed 3/22/2024.

• British Heart Foundation. Inflammation: What is it, and how does it affect the heart? (https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/research/what-is-inflammation) Published 8/13/2021. Accessed 3/22/2024.