Inflammation is your body's response to injury or infection. It is a normal part of the healing process, but sometimes inflammation can become chronic and cause further health issues. Some key things to know about inflammation:
- Causes: Inflammation can be triggered by physical injuries, infections, autoimmune disorders, stress, unhealthy diet, smoking, etc. The immune system releases chemicals that make blood vessels leaky so that immune cells can get to the site of injury.
- Signs and symptoms: Common signs of inflammation include redness, swelling, heat, and pain. These are caused by increased blood flow and immune activity at the site of injury. Systemic inflammation may cause fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and muscle aches.
- Acute vs chronic: Acute inflammation starts rapidly and becomes severe rather quickly. Its main role is to eliminate whatever is causing cell injury. Chronic inflammation is prolonged, lasts for months or years, and leads to progressive tissue damage.
- Testing: Doctors can test for inflammation by checking ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and CRP (C-reactive protein) blood tests. These measure levels of inflammatory markers in the blood.
| Test |
Normal Range |
Elevated Range |
| ESR |
0-22 mm/hr |
>22 mm/hr |
| CRP |
<1.0 mg/L |
>1.0 mg/L |
- Treatment: Treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause. For acute inflammation, RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) helps reduce swelling and pain. For chronic inflammation, medications like NSAIDs, steroids, DMARDs, biologics, and lifestyle changes may be used.
| Treatment |
Acute Inflammation |
Chronic Inflammation |
| RICE |
✓ |
|
| NSAIDs |
✓ |
✓ |
| Steroids |
|
✓ |
| DMARDs, Biologics |
|
✓ |
| Lifestyle Changes |
|
✓ |
Managing inflammation properly is crucial for good health. Unchecked, it can damage joints, organs, and lead to diseases like cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. At Restore Hormone Clinic, we help patients optimize their hormone levels to fight inflammation.
Balanced hormones reduce inflammatory cytokine production and calm an overactive immune response. Our integrative treatments combine
bioidentical hormone therapy, customized nutrition plans, gut healing protocols, and stress management techniques to tackle inflammation at its roots.
We specialize in complex hormone imbalances that frequently trigger inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Our expert practitioners spend quality time understanding your unique health history and goals to create fully personalized treatment plans. If chronic inflammation is diminishing your health and quality of life, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at our clinic. We are driven by our mission to support patients in reclaiming their vitality. You deserve to feel your best! Here's to your journey back to optimal wellness!