In-Depth Look at Inflammation

Inflammation is our body's frontline defense mechanism. It can be seen as an in-built alarm system. When your body detects something harmful, such as injury or infection, it springs into action.

The main purpose of this response is to remove the cause of any cell injury, clear out damaged tissues, and begin the healing process.

The process starts when tiny blood vessels in the area expand to allow more blood to flow, leading to redness and warmth. This increased blood flow also allows more white blood cells to reach the site of injury or infection. These white blood cells, also known as leukocytes, are our body's soldiers that fight off germs and help heal wounds.

Alongside redness and warmth, the affected area might also swell. This swelling, or edema, occurs as the blood vessels become leaky, allowing fluid to seep into the surrounding tissues.

Though it can cause discomfort, this swelling is actually helpful: it allows more immune cells to reach the area and fight off the infection or heal the injury.