Immune System and Inflammation
Inflammation is a pain. Actually, it’s a process by which the body’s immune systems protect us from infection and foreign substances like viruses, toxins and bacteria . On the other hand , in auto immune diseases, the immune system inappropriately sets off an inflammatory response when there are no foreign substances to fight off and results in damage to its own cells Your immune system assaults normal tissues as if they are diseased or contaminated . When inflammation occurs , chemicals from the body’s white blood cells are loosened into the blood or affected tissues in an attempt to purge the body of alien toxins . These new chemicals increases the blood flow to the immediate area and may result in swelling, warmth and redness . Sadly , inflammation may stimulate nerves and create a lot of pain.
Arthritis is a general term that describes joint inflammation . Some, but not all, types of arthritis are the fallout from misdirected inflammation. Some types of inflammatory arthritis include:rheumatoid arthritis, Shoulder tendinitis or bursitis and Gout .
While not all need to be present , the basic symptoms of inflammation are Redness, a swollen joint that is warm to the touch, joint pain Joint stiffness and a loss of joint function. In addition to that , Inflammation may also be associated with general “flu-like” symptoms including – feeling chilled or feverishness headaches and a lack of energy stiff muscles and a loss of appetite.
Although the immediate discomfort caused because of inflammation can seem bad enough, the extra cells and toxins in the joint cause irritation – in the long term wearing down of cartilage (cushions at the end of bones) and joint lining. Inflammation can also be a problem for organs. The nature of the symptoms depends on which organs are inflamed .
- An inflamed heart (myocarditis) may cause shortness of breath or leg swelling
- Inflammation of the narrow tubes that move air to the lungs may trigger an asthma episode
- Inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis) can lead to high blood pressure or kidney failure
- Inflammation of the large intestine (colitis) can lead to diarrhea and cramps .
Pain might not be an obvious symptom an inflamed organ , because many organs don’t have a lot of pain-sensitive nerves.
There are different treatment options for inflammation , but as a rule , the medical community will depend on prescription anti-inflammatories, pain medication, rest, exercise, and surgery to correct joint damage.
The objectives of treating inflammation are to:
- Avoid or modify activities that aggravate pain
- Relieve pain through analgesics (pain-relieving medications ) and anti-inflammatory medications
- Maintain joint mobility and muscle strength through physical therapy
- Decrease stress on the joints by using braces, splints or canes as needed
What is missing are any preventative ideas or self help steps that can essentially support your body by increasing your antioxidant levels , making dietary improvements , cutting stress levels and managing everyday toxins – because they truly are everywhere. Antioxidants will aid your body to fight toxins and in particular the family of antioxidants known as Betalains found in the wellness drink Nopalea are very well suited as natural inflammation fighters.