Inflammation unleashed: What sparks it, how it affects you, and ways to take control

Inflammation is the body’s natural reaction to injury, infection, or harmful substances. It involves activating the immune system and releasing substances that help fight off invaders and repair the tissue. While acute inflammation helps clear infection and start the healing process, problems arise when it becomes uncontrolled or long-lasting. Chronic inflammation can lead to many serious diseases, like heart disease, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and even cancer. This article delves into how inflammation works at the molecular and cellular levels, exploring the host defense mechanism, signaling pathways, etc. It also focuses on common internal and external triggers, the effect of ongoing inflammation on the body, and ways to manage it, such as medication, diet, and lifestyle changes. Understanding the good and bad sides of inflammation is vital for guiding medical practices and health policies to maintain balance in the body and prevent disease.