Inflammation Basics

Inflammation can be temporary. A toothache, cold or flu creates inflammation in your body. Inflammation in this case helps your body overcome infection or viruses with localized heat, swelling, pain and sometimes fever.

Chronic inflammation can contribute to the development of a condition and can occur as a result of a condition like diabetes or obesity. Chronic inflammation also exists in auto-immune disease like psoriasis, arthritis and lupus.

Inflammation can be considered a pre-cursor for heart disease. For example, recent studies have shown that a build up of cholesterol plaques; atherosclerosis in the heart, begins an inflammatory process and can promote the acceleration of heart disease. Cancer can also be preceded by a chronic infection or inflammation. Even Alzheimers disease had been found to have an inflammatory connection.