The Role of Inflammation

Inflammation is a response of the immune system to injury, irritation, or infection caused by invading pathogens, radiation exposure, very high or low temperatures, or autoimmune processes. Therefore, inflammation is a mechanism for removing damaged cells, irritants, or pathogens. Inflammation is considered to be beneficial when it is short term and under control within the immune system (acute inflammation). Inflammation that persists longer is known as chronic inflammation. This inflammation is characterized by the simultaneous destruction and healing of tissue. Problem is in this day of toxic overload and stress imposed upon the body through bad life-style choices, this chronic inflammation does not “switch off” but instead continues to create havoc within the body. Chronic inflammation damages the cells of the brain, heart, arterial walls, and other anatomic structures; this damage leads to various inflammatory chronic diseases. Epidemiological evidence points to a connection between inflammation and a predisposition for the development of cancer, ie, long-term inflammation leads to the development of dysplasia. Inflammation has also been shown to mediate cardiovascular diseases. CRP, an acute-phase protein produced by the liver during bacterial infections and inflammation, was found to be a common marker for detecting cardiovascular and atherosclerotic diseases. Inflammation is also a cause of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. This course investigates all these links and offers different treatment modalities, guided nutritional and lifestyle choices and supportive exercises to tackle the emotional aspect.