Healthy Lungs

Inflammation Is Immune System’s Natural Response To Heal

The word “inflammation” traces back to the Latin for “set afire.” When you have rheumatoid arthritis, you feel heat, pain, redness, and swelling. But not so in cases like heart disease, and diabetes because the symptoms are not clear. Sometimes inflammation strikes suddenly when your body is fighting an infection. Maybe it’s cellulitis, a skin infection, or appendicitis, which affects your appendix. Inflammation is part of your immune system’s natural response to heal an injury or fight an infection. Long-lasting, or “chronic,” inflammation is seen in many diseases and conditions. 

Inflamed arteries are common among people with heart disease. When fats build up in the walls of the heart’s coronary arteries, the body fires back with inflammatory chemicals, since it sees this as an “injury” to the heart. That could trigger a blood clot that causes a heart attack or stroke.

Inflammation and type 2 diabetes are also linked. Obesity may trigger the inflammation, making it harder for the body to use insulin. Losing extra pounds and keeping them off is an important step to lower your chance of getting type 2 diabetes.

Chronic brain inflammation is often seen in people with this type of dementia. Scientists don’t yet understand exactly how that works, but inflammation may play an active role in the disease called Alzheimer’s.

Chronic inflammation also could cause ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which are types of inflammatory bowel disease. It happens when your body's immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy bacteria in your gut, and causes inflammation. You could have symptoms such as belly pain, cramping, and diarrhea.

Osteoarthritis is not “arthritis”, in which the tissue that cushions joints, cartilage, breaks down, particularly as people age. In Rheumatoid Arthritis, the immune system attacks your body’s joints, causing inflammation that can harm even the heart. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, and red, warm, swollen joints.

Fibromyalgia can cause pain, tenderness, and fatigue. Unlike in Rheumatoid Arthritis, inflammation in fibromyalgia does not attack the joints. Research suggests that brain inflammation may be associated with fibromyalgia.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) can ease inflammation and pain. Ibuprofen and naproxen, are sold over the counter, but you cannot take them regularly.

Ginger root, cinnamon, clove, black pepper, and turmeric have anti-inflammation properties. The omega-3s in fish such as salmon and tuna can reduce inflammation. Fish oil can also help. People who are low on vitamin D also tend to have more inflammation than others.

Vitamin A also boosts your immune system and guards against infectious diseases. Just 10,000 international units (IU) for 1-2 weeks can help you heal after an exercise-related injury. Liver, fish oils, milk, eggs, and leafy greens are good.

Alcohol Can Be Both Medicine And Malady

What matters is the volume of alcohol consumed. A typical cocktail will have the same amount of alcohol as a beer or a glass of wine. US Dietary Guidelines define a standard drink as 1.5oz of 80 proof alcohol distilled spirits, 5oz of wine at 12% alcohol, and 12 oz of beer at 5% alcohol.

Excessive or Binge drinking can increase your risk of serious health problems.

Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks within two hours for women and five or more drinks within two hours for men.

Don't Drink Alcohol:

If you have liver or pancreatic disease

If you have heart failure or you've been told you have a weak heart

If you take prescription or over-the-counter medications that can interact with alcohol.