What's Up with Inflammation?

PART I

What is Inflammation?

According to to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, inflammation is “a local response to cellular injury that is marked by capillary dilatation, leukocytic infiltration, redness, heat, and pain and that serves as a mechanism initiating the elimination of noxious agents and of damaged tissue.” That means that when your body is faced with a stressor (infection, irritation, etc.) your immune system sends out droves of white blood cells and chemicals to protect you from further damage. Inflammation is characterized by swelling, heat, redness, pain, and dysfunction of the affected part of the body.

Sometimes the immune system attacks healthy tissues in the body. This is referred to as an autoimmune disorder. Examples of autoimmune disorders include asthma, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, tendinitis, lupus and many more. These disorders can be inconvenient and often painful for individuals who suffer from them and can severely impact their quality of life. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which chronic pain is a result of inflammation.

Now that you have a basic understanding of inflammation we can discuss some preventative measures that can be taken to decrease inflammation and encourage added comfort in your day to day life. Check back next week for Part II: “Combating Inflammation through Diet.”

More information on inflammation and autoimmune disfunction can be found from the following sources:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/
http://www.medterms.com/
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/symptoms/Inflammation/
http://www.achooallergy.com/chronic-inflammation-disease.asp
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000816.htm
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/autoimmune.html

Sore No More! Pain Relieving Gel can help with the tenderness caused by inflammation. Put a couple of tablespoons in a bath tonight and enjoy a good night of sleep!

Sore No More
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Moab, Utah 84532

Tel: (435) 259-5931
Toll Free: (800) 842-6622
www.sorenomore.com