Inflammation: Even The Word Makes You Think, “Ouch!”

Inflammation is truly a fire within the body, generated by the immune system to fight a foreign substance or protect an injured area. We have all experienced it: the redness, swelling and pain. What many people aren’t aware of is that there are two different kinds of inflammation within the body – acute and chronic.

The Two Kinds of Inflammation

Acute inflammation is often caused by an injury. Chronic inflammation is generally more serious for it is difficult to stop and will result in the deterioration of body tissues over time. It may destroy a knee, as with rheumatoid arthritis, or even lead to cancer. Often with chronic inflammation the pain isn’t immediate, but only shows itself when the affected area has suffered some tissue destruction. With chronic inflammation the pain can even be located in a part of the body not associated with damaged tissues. When the heart is inflamed the person is more likely to experience a swelling in the legs than a pain in the heart.