Inflammation in the body is caused by the immune system's response to harmful stimuli such as injury, infection, or exposure to irritants. It is a protective mechanism aimed at eliminating the cause of cell injury, clearing out damaged cells, and initiating tissue repair
Causes of Inflammation
Acute inflammation is triggered by:
- Injury (cuts, scrapes)
- Infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi
- Exposure to harmful substances or foreign bodies
Chronic inflammation can result from:
- Persistent infections where the harmful agent is not fully eliminated (e.g., tuberculosis)
- Long-term exposure to irritants like industrial chemicals or silica dust
- Autoimmune disorders where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis)
- Genetic factors affecting immune regulation (auto-inflammatory diseases)
- Recurrent episodes of acute inflammation that do not fully resolve
- Lifestyle factors such as poor diet, obesity, chronic stress, lack of exercise, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and exposure to environmental toxins
- Imbalance in gut microbiota, with too many harmful microbes or too few beneficial ones
How Inflammation Occurs
When inflammation occurs, immune cells release substances like histamine and bradykinin that cause blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow to the affected area. This leads to redness, heat, swelling, and pain, which are classic signs of inflammation. The increased blood flow allows more immune cells to reach the site to fight infection or heal injury
Role of Diet
Certain foods can promote inflammation, especially diets high in processed foods, red and processed meats, refined carbohydrates, sugars, and unhealthy fats. These pro-inflammatory diets are linked to chronic diseases fueled by inflammation such as heart disease and diabetes
. In summary, inflammation is caused by the body's immune response to harmful stimuli, infections, injuries, autoimmune reactions, irritants, and lifestyle factors. While acute inflammation is a necessary healing process, chronic inflammation can contribute to various diseases and is often linked to persistent triggers and unhealthy lifestyle choices.
