Inflammation: The Real Burn

Inflammation is a common reality for everyone. We all deal with it in our own capacity AND we don’t always know it! We’re so used to the notion of visible symptoms, which usually consist of redness or swelling. But inflammation symptoms can affect your body in many other ways, too.

A Body Process

Simply put, inflammation is your body’s response to outside stimuli, like infection and injury.

The body releases molecules and proteins, called inflammatory mediators, including the hormones bradykinin and histamine. These molecules cause tissues to expand, allowing for blood to rush to the infected/injured site. It’s for this reason that inflamed areas appear red and sometimes warm to the touch.

Some of these mediators also have another function: they help make blood vessels more permeable, allowing for more defense cells and blood to easily flow to the targeted site. That is why inflamed areas often appear to be more swelled or swollen.

This condition can be triggered by bacteria, pathogens, injuries and scrapes by foreign objects (like a cut). It’s our bodies way to naturally begin to heal itself, by getting blood and helpful molecules to the damaged area. You may only see red, and swollen skin; however, there is much more going on internally.

Inflammation is meant to encourage the body to recuperate, but too much of anything is never good. In fact, the immune system can sometimes attack its own cells, causing inflammation.

That’s exactly when the C-reactive protein (CRP) comes into play.

What is the C-reactive protein?

When the body encounters inflammation, the liver responds by producing CRP. For this reason, a high count of CRP usually is seen as a marker for it. Since there aren’t external signs, a blood test is the only way to determine a high count.

This molecule is important because it can signal internal and even chronic inflammation, which can have lasting health effects. CRP levels can inform us about health issues connected to each different body system. However, it’s important to note that CRP is just a biomarker–it does not necessarily mean you have a specific illness.

Current research suggests that CRP can even signal potentially fatal diseases. For example, the American Heart Association considers that CRP can play an important role in heart disease, or risk of heart attack and stroke.

What are the risks?

Inflammation may be a good way for your body to counteract infection, but constant recurrence can possibly damage the gut microbiome or cause harm to joints and skin.

Just as there is issue with over-activity, there is issue with little activity, too. If the body’s inflammatory process cannot respond properly, it is at risk of sepsis. This is where bacteria affects the body and spreads rapidly through the bloodstream.

Seeking Help

Considering that chronic inflammation affects more than 75% of Americans, Dave and our Purium team understands how critical this health issue has become.

Not only have we designed innovative superfoods products to target the root cause of inflammation, like Biome Medic and CBD+ sublingual spray, we’ve also created a Healthy Inflammatory Response Pack: