Inflammatory Response: The Good, The Bad, and Your Joints
For the past month we have talked about how many of our joint health products can help your body mount a healthy inflammatory response.
But what is an inflammatory response? What is the difference between a good response and a bad response? And how exactly does the body's inflammatory response affect joint health?
Keep reading to learn what QOL has to say about joint health and inflammatory response.
What is an inflammatory response?
An inflammatory response is simply the body's way of responding to conditions that it may consider harmful. This response also happens when the body is trying to heal or recover or when the body detects that it needs to balance certain hormones or compounds.
An inflammatory response is also connected with how often and much we sweat and how warm or cold we feel. Basically, an inflammatory response is the body's way of rebalancing itself.
Often, you don't notice the body doing this, and this is good because it means the body is running fine without needing your active intervention. If you are majorly feeling this kind of response, it could indicate a health condition that needs to be addressed.
We can also classify inflammatory responses into good and bad.
The Good
The good kind of inflammatory response is acute or a direct response to foreign invaders, used to help heal wounds or injuries. Symptoms may include swelling, sweating, body temperature fluctuations, and some levels of pain. Since it is acute, it usually disappears after a short time, depending on how fast you recover or how quickly the body eliminates what needs to be eliminated.
The Bad
The bad kind of inflammatory response may occur for a longer duration, be chronic, or occur when there is no threat in your body warranting the reaction. This can lead to many long-term health risks.
How does inflammatory response affect joint health?
Our joints take a beating daily, mainly due to how they carry our weight and are repeatedly exposed to high-impact activities. Typically, the wear and tear are healed or can be withstood by the joints. However, through repeated use and aging, the joints become prone to inflammatory problems, leading to symptoms associated with joint health issues.
When the joints develop inflammatory problems, a person is likely to feel pain, swelling, or limited physical movement and flexibility more often. This restriction of movement causes a lower quality of life and may need medical intervention and treatment.
Takeaway…
The body's ability to have an inflammatory response is a sign that the body is functioning correctly and is working to maintain a healthy balance. It is normal and fit for the body to experience this. The problem arises when the inflammatory response becomes chronic or when the body does not know the proper time to have an inflammatory response. If not corrected, the body will overproduce certain substances or overdo processes that may harm the body in the long run. Therefore, it's super important to take every measure to maintain a healthy inflammatory response.
