- Possible symptoms of inflammation
- How to cure inflammation
- Why Inflammation Happens
- What is the difference between acute and chronic inflammation
Inflammation happens when the body fights an infection or injury, and is a natural process that is part of the body's immune system. Inflammation usually causes heat, redness, swelling and pain and can be caused by infections by bacteria, viruses or parasites in the body or by other factors such as poison, heat, radiation exposure or trauma, such as when you have a sprain or break a bone.
Inflammation can happen in different parts of the body, such as the ear, intestine, gums, throat or uterus for example and it can be acute or chronic, depending on how long it takes for your symptoms to appear or the inflammation takes to heal.
Possible symptoms of inflammation
The main symptoms that indicate inflammation are:
- Swelling or edema; Pain when touching; Redness or flushing; Feeling of heat.
These are the main 4 signs that usually indicate the presence of an inflammatory process and in the presence of some of these symptoms you should consult the doctor as soon as possible so that he can start treatment.
In addition, depending on the location of the inflammation, other signs and symptoms may appear, such as swollen glands and white spots in the case of sore throats or pain, fever and the release of thick, yellowish fluid in the case of an ear infection.
How to cure inflammation
To cure the inflammation, anti-inflammatory remedies must be treated, which can be of 2 types:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: as is the case with Ibuprofen, acetylsalicylic acid or Naproxen, which are generally used to treat simpler inflammations such as sore throat or earache for example; Anti-inflammatory Corticosteroids: as is the case with Prednisolone or Prednisone, which are generally used only in cases of more severe or chronic inflammation such as psoriasis or some chronic candidiasis.
The action of anti-inflammatory drugs will help to reduce discomfort and the effects of inflammation in the body, reducing the pain, swelling and redness experienced.
Why Inflammation Happens
Inflammation happens when substances are released into the body, such as histamine, which trigger the inflammatory response in the body. These substances are released when the body fights an infection or injury and increases blood supply at the injury site.
In addition, there is the production of inflammatory substances that increase the permeability of blood vessels at the site and there is a process called chemotaxis, a chemical process where blood cells such as neutrophils and macrophages are attracted to the injury site to fight the causative agents inflammation and control possible bleeding.
What is the difference between acute and chronic inflammation
The difference between acute and chronic inflammation is the intensity of the symptoms experienced and the time it takes to appear, as well as the time it takes to heal. While in acute inflammation the typical signs of inflammation are present, such as heat, redness, swelling and pain and this persists for a short time, in chronic inflammation the symptoms experienced are not very specific and are not visible and this usually lasts more than 3 months..
Tonsillitis and otitis are some examples of acute inflammation, and rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and tuberculosis, examples of chronic inflammation.
