Inflammatory Response

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Inflammatory Response

The immune system is very important to the body. It protects the body from foreign materials such as bacteria. It does this in different ways, depending on the type of the foreign material that has entered the body, and the part of the body that has been affected. The inflammatory response therefore refers to the body’s response after an injury or disease. It is an important process in the body because it helps it to get rid of toxins and dead body tissues, with the aim of restoring it to its natural state. Although the inflammatory response is important to the body, it can also be dangerous. Inflammation may last for several minutes, and in some cases, it may last for a long time. The four major signs of the inflammatory response include heat, redness, swelling, and pain.

When a person is injured, the blood vessels release various fluids, plasma proteins and the white blood cells. The arterioles near the area of the injury constrict for a moment, and then they dilate. This causes the blood flow in the affected area to increase, and it causes redness and heat to the affected region. The blood circulation increases in pressure when the arterioles dilate. The increase in pressure increases the release of the plasma proteins and the blood cells in the affected area, and this causes swelling. The swelling stimulates the nerve endings at the site of the injury to be stimulated, and this causes pain. Clotting is important because it helps in preventing damage to the tissue and prevents blood loss. The white blood cells destroy the foreign materials at the site of the injury (Nair, 2009).

The increased blood flow causes the temperature to increase, and a person becomes warm. One of the ways through which a person releases excess heat in the body is through sweating. It is important for people to avoid excess body heat since it can lead to illness and it can cause hyperthermia. A person can remove excess clothes, move to a ‘cooler place, or take a cold drink so that he can get rid of the excess heat. The body is capable of loosing the excess heat by radiation. It does this by dilating the skin blood vessels, which increase the heat radiation. Extreme body heat can however affect this capability, and it can limit the body’s preventive mechanism. Extreme heat in the body can cause heat strokes, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps (AmericanAcademy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 2010).

Redness is not always a sign of injury. Some people’s appearance becomes red at some areas of their body due to psychological conditions. For instance, a shy person will sometimes turn red when he or she faces people. Redness is usually caused by increased blood flow. It is possible to treat, and avoid redness. People who spend much time in the sun usually turn red. They can avoid this by applying protective lotions on their skin so that they do not get sunburns. Some people usually take a long time before redness disappears in case of an injury. This is because the inflammatory response usually depends on the person’s immune system. If a person has a strong immune system, then he or she will have a stronger response. The person will be in a better position to respond more quickly to treatment

Swelling happens when the when the plasma leaks, and when different cells move to the injured part. A person can swell due to injury and disease, and the fact that bodily fluid is not flowing properly. In most cases, swelling usually disappears without much intervention. However, in some cases, treatment is usually used to bring it down. Swelling can cause a lot of discomfort to the person. It can affect the way they work. For instance, a person with a swollen foot finds it hard to walk properly. Someone with swollen fingers finds it painful to work.

Pain makes a person uncomfortable, and given a choice, most people would choose to avoid it. Many people, either using alternative or clinical medicine, have tried various ways of reducing pain. They have used drugs, therapy, messages and alcohol among others, to ensure that they lessen the pain of their patients. Some conditions can cause a person to have extreme pain. Someone may experience a dull and numbing pain that may last for a long time. Other people experience a sharp and quick pain, which may last for a short time. Although the other signs of inflammation may disappear, pain tends to continue for some time (Benzon et al., 2008). Pain enables the person to stop what they are doing and this ensures that they do not harm themselves further.

References

AmericanAcademy of Orthopedic Surgeons (2010). Emergency care and transportation of the sick and injured. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning

Benzon, T. H., Raj, P. P., Rathmell, P. J., & Wu, L. C. (2008). Raj’s practical management of pain. New York, NY: Elsevier Health Sciences

Nair, M. (2009). Fundamentals of applied pathophysiology: An essential guide for nursing students. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons