what is inflammation in body

Inflammation is a natural process that occurs when your immune system sends out cells to fight bacteria or heal an injury. It is a defensive response governed primarily by the immune system, which dispatches white blood cells to the affected sites, resulting in redness and swelling or symptoms such as fever. There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is a short-lived response that goes away within hours or days, while chronic inflammation can last months or years, even after the first trigger is gone. Chronic inflammation is a symptom of other health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, and obesity. Chronic inflammation can have a deleterious effect on the body, and some lifestyle factors contribute to inflammation in the body, such as drinking alcohol in excess, having a high body mass index (BMI), not exercising enough, experiencing chronic stress, and smoking. Inflammation is an essential part of the body’s healing process, but if inflammatory cells stay too long, it may lead to chronic inflammation.