The process of inflammation is similar to a domino effect: a single event may trigger a chain of inflammatory reactions. While many of the reactions are fairly predictable, many others are not and involve complicated patterns unique to the individual. Still, all inflammation exhibits five basic signs caused by four basic triggers.

Signs of inflammation
With tissue injury, inflammation is part of the healing process:

  1. Redness: An increased blood supply to the injured area turns the tissues red.
  2. Swelling: An increase in healing proteins, plasma and other substances causes swelling.
  3. Pain: We instinctively guard an injury because we feel or anticipate pain.
  4. Heat: The damaged tissue becomes weakened and susceptible to infection. White blood cells rush to the area, which can cause heat or fever.
  5. Loss of Function: The injured area experiences a loss of function until it is healed.

Inflammation triggers
The “dominoes” fall in the same predictable pattern if the injury is a sprained ankle or heart attack! No matter what triggers the inflammation, the process is the same.

Trauma
Trauma can be a direct injury that causes pain and distress, but a sedentary lifestyle can also be a serious cause of trauma.

Toxins
Toxicity causes cells to rupture the same way a needle causes a balloon to pop. Between internal and external toxins, we are bathed in inflammation-producing poison every moment of every day.

Deficiency
Deficiencies also cause inflammation. For example, an Omega-3 deficiency leaves the cell walls weak and dysfunctional. The cell can easily pop and trigger inflammation. Similarly, deficiency of other nutrients can have a catastrophic effect on cells within your body.

Stress
When we appraise a situation to be stressful, our brain releases chemicals that trigger the release of many inflammatory processes.

Once runaway inflammation is triggered, it follows an amazingly intricate course leading to catastrophe. Hindering the runaway inflammation should be a top priority. So, no matter what is causing this distress, reducing excess inflammation will always improve the way we feel.