Inflammation - Balance Clinic

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is the body's natural protective response to injury or infection. When tissues are damaged by things like pathogens, physical trauma, chemicals, or heat, the immune system releases chemicals that make blood vessels dilate and become more permeable. This allows more immune cells and proteins to enter the injured area and help with healing.

There are 5 main signs of inflammation:

• Pain - Proteins released by damaged cells stimulate nerve endings, causing pain signals to be sent to the brain. This alerts us that something is wrong.
• Heat - More blood flows to the area, making it feel warm or hot to the touch.
• Redness - More blood in the tissues causes visible redness.
• Swelling - Fluid accumulates, causing swelling or edema.
• Loss of function - The area may be stiff or immobilized to prevent further damage while healing.

Inflammation can be acute or chronic:

Type	Description
Acute inflammation	Starts rapidly and lasts for a short time as the body heals. Signs are more noticeable.
Chronic inflammation	Long-term and can last for months or years. Associated with diseases like arthritis, IBD, and asthma.

There are many causes of inflammation, including:

• Infections from bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites
• Injuries such as cuts, scrapes, burns, sprains or broken bones
• Exposure to toxins, chemicals, or pollutants
• Autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
• Chronic diseases like heart disease or cancer

Prolonged inflammation, even if fairly mild, can damage tissues over time and increase the risk of more serious health issues. That's why it's so important to identify and properly treat the root cause.

The integrative medicine providers at Balance Clinic can help identify factors contributing to inflammation and create customized treatment plans to reduce it. Their holistic approach looks at diet, exercise, stress levels, hormone balance, gut health, environmental exposures, and more to support the body's natural healing abilities. With comprehensive testing and personalized care, many patients find relief from nagging inflammation and feel their best again.

Some key ways to fight inflammation naturally include:

Method	Description
Anti-inflammatory diet	Eating more anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens, salmon, berries, olive oil, nuts and avocados. Avoiding foods that can promote inflammation like refined carbs, fried foods, alcohol and processed meat.
Exercise	Getting regular exercise to improve circulation and blood flow.
Stress management	Managing stress through yoga, meditation or counseling.
Supplements	Taking helpful supplements like omega-3 fish oils, turmeric, reservatrol, etc.
Sleep	Getting enough sleep to give the body time to heal.
Quitting smoking	Quitting smoking to limit lung inflammation and free radical damage.

Conclusion

Keeping inflammation under control is crucial for staying healthy as we age. Work with your doctor to find the right combination of lifestyle changes, natural remedies, and medical treatments to resolve inflammation and feel your best. The knowledgeable practitioners at Balance Clinic are here to help!