Inflammation
Inflammation affects everyone’s health. When inflammation increases, so does our risk for disease. Chronic inflammation — the long-term, runaway activation of the immune system’s defense response, even in the absence of infection or injury — is at the core of a host of health problems, including cancer, stroke, depression, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Chronic low-grade inflammation happens when the following things happen:
The immune system is triggered. Something triggers the body and puts it in a state of distress and keeps it there. Some of the triggers may be weight gain, poor nutrition, autoimmune disorders, stress, and exposure to allergens or chemicals.
The immune system responds. The body activates its attack mode with its inflammatory response which includes more blood to the problem areas. Blood is the primary delivery system for the inflammatory response.
The immune system continues to respond. Because we never give the body a break, things like food, lack of sleep, and stress keep this process of inflammation in constant motion - the runaway activation of the immune system’s defense response.
See the next postings to learn how yoga and meditation are two major ways to soothe and reduce inflammation.
