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What causes inflammation

Inflammation is caused when there is an infection or irritation in the body. The immune system can become infected and irritated as well. There are all kinds of conditions that can occur in the body to cause inflammation. Inflammation is the natural response of the body to attack. It occurs when the body sends white blood cells to the area in the body that is invaded by germs, etc. The problem with inflammation is that the body can mistake healthy tissue at attack it too. You want to prevent inflammation in the body as much as possible.

Bacteria such as in conjunctivis, chlamydial conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, open cuts and wounds, vaginitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, etc. all can cause the body to send white blood cells to the area and then inflammation can form in the body. Inflammation can also occur as a response to outside stimuli that affects the body. Inflammation is the result of your body trying to fight off an infection. It is your body’s response to foreign invaders and as such is a good thing. However, keeping the body in a state of inflammation can cause serious health problems so you want to avoid triggers that are unnecessary. These triggers can be controlled for the most part if you know what causes inflammation.

A poor diet is often the cause of overall inflammation in the body and can lead to the development of serious diseases. Eating a diet high in polyunsaturated vegetable oils that contain omega-6 fatty acid can cause inflammation in the body and you should try to limit them as much as possible. On the other hand, a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation so you should try to increase these good fatty acids. You can eat foods high in omega-3 oils to help fight unnecessary inflammation. Eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates can also set up a response in the body in the form of inflammation for some people. This includes eating a diet high in foods that are high on the glycemic index. To counter act inflammation caused by these foods you should switch to low glycemic foods. If you are not sure what foods are high and low on the glycemic index it is very easy to get this information online.

Another cause for inflammation in the body is eating a diet high in red meat. Red meats can signal a response from your immune system produce inflammation. The release of too much of the stress hormone called cortisol can cause inflammation in the body. Stress can cause the adrenal glands to become fatigued. Too much cortisol can raise the blood pressure and sugar levels which in turn create inflammation. Too much cortisol can reduce the immune systems ability to fight off infections.

The environment in which you live and work plays a big role in producing inflammation in the body. Exposure to things in the environment like cleaning products, air fresheners, glue and adhesive products, pesticides and pollution can cause inflammation. Not all people react to their environment the same way. Some people can become really sick because of the exposure to certain things in the environment which can lead to inflammation. It is best to try to avoid environmental causes for inflammation.

Inadequate hormone levels can set up a reaction in the body leading to inflammation. Women who are going through menopause often suffer from inflammation associated with osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer. The way a woman’s body reacts to the loss of estrogen can differ but many women develop these diseases due to inflammation brought on by low levels of this hormone.

Last updated on Mar 1st, 2011 and filed under Immune System. Both comments and pings are currently closed.