There are five possible causes of inflammation:
1. Infection: Inflammation is the body’s response to an infection, such as a bacterial or viral infection. When the body is fighting an infection, inflammatory chemicals are released into the blood to help fight the infection. This can cause swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected area.
2. Injury: Inflammation can also occur in response to an injury, such as a burn or cut. The inflammatory response helps to heal the wound by increasing blood flow and bringing nutrients and white blood cells to the area. This can cause swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected area.
3. Allergies: Allergies are another common trigger for inflammation. When someone has an allergy, their immune system over reacts to a harmless substance (such as pollen or pet dander) and releases inflammatory chemicals into the bloodstream. This can cause symptoms such as itching, swelling, and difficulty breathing.
4 Autoimmune disease: Autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system mistakes healthy cells for foreign invaders and attacks them.. This can cause inflammation throughout your body as your immune system tries to fight off these “invaders.” Common autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis,.
Asthma
There is no cure for asthma, but it can be controlled with proper treatment. Treatment typically involves a combination of medication and lifestyle changes. In some cases, asthma may go into remission and may not require any treatment at all.
The exact cause of asthma is unknown, but it is believed to be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Environmental factors that may contribute to asthma include exposure to airborne irritants such as dust mites, pollen, pet dander, smoke, and chemical fumes. Genetic factors include having a family history of asthma or other allergies.
Heart disease
1. Infection: Infection with certain viruses or bacteria can lead to inflammation. For example, infections with the herpes simplex virus or HIV can cause inflammation of the heart (myocarditis).
2. Autoimmune disease: In autoimmune diseases, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. This can lead to inflammation in various organs, including the heart (cardiomyopathy).
3. Toxins: Exposure to certain toxins, such as alcohol or cigarettes smoke, can cause inflammation.
4. Obesity: Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic inflammatory diseases, including heart disease. Fat cells produce inflammatory molecules that can damage blood vessels and contribute to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
5. Stress: Chronic stress has been linked with increased levels of inflammatory markers in the blood.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that primarily affects joints. It typically results in warm, swollen, and painful joints. Inflammation caused by RA can also affect other tissues throughout the body. RA is about two to three times more common in women than men and generally begins between the ages of 40 and 60. However, it can occur at any age. People with RA often have fatigue, lose weight, and have a fever.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis that primarily affects the spine. AS can cause pain and stiffness in the lower back and buttocks, as well as inflammation of the eyes and en theses (the places where tendons or ligaments attach to bone). AS is more common in men than women and usually begins between the ages of 20 and 30. However, it can occur at any age. People with AS often have fatigue, lose weight,and have a fever.