What Is ‘Inflammation’?

As a veteran health science writer, I am confident that every single human being should internalize one word into their vocabulary: ‘inflammation’.

It’s a scientific jargon, but it means ‘burning’.

When you have a fever, your body’s temperature rises temporarily to combat the invading pathogens. If the feverish state remains, you will never be able to function well. Pregnancy may not be possible, and conditions like diabetes and heart disease may persist.

Inflammation is like a constant fever. You don’t want that. It’s low-grade inflammation.

If inflammation escalates to high-grade state, the person’s life could be at risk, as seen in severe malaria, dengue, sepsis, and other fatal conditions.

So, shouldn’t people know more about it? After all, awareness will improve life quality and quantity. It will reduce anxieties and save you your hard-earned money.

When I checked on Medium, and there are only 19 followers of the topic ‘inflammation’, and merely 1.5K stories. Are 20 of those stories from me? Very likely.

What on earth is going on? Why are we acting so ignorant? Inflammation should be taught in schools. Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. But you need to learn.

We live in chemical era. Our immune systems are provoked. Our bodies are inflamed.

My 40-year-old friends are having a hip replacement, uterus removal, lung lesions, infertility, and so many other health issues. What’s the point of living to 80, if we are frail or health-compromised?

Wake up. Learn about inflammation. Listen to the whispers of your body. Don’t let it snowball into a shriek or groan.

Maybe your medical team wants to suppress or resolve your condition with pills and surgeries.

Inflammation awareness can save lives, it can rescue people out of miseries.

I share a lot on it. Do they listen? I’m not sure. Do they love me for the awareness generation? Not necessarily.

I remember telling a woman not to use cosmetics, as she shared her diabetes diagnosis. She said she uses Ayurvedic product. I have to say, be it Ayurvedic, organic, vegan, or whatever else, t hey are all inflammatory to your body!

A friend had thyroid issues and arthritis. I told her the same, avoid chemicals. Your body is inflamed. She said her face feels dry in winter without moisturizer. Well, I have been living nine years without a dab of chemicals! I care for my health over the looks.

My own sister, who has uterine discomforts as she navigates perimenopausal time. I suggest her to avoid cosmetics to not cause estrogen dominance and to not aggravate the situation. But I heard that she finds my health advice annoying and repetitive. I feel sorry for her. Maybe her spouse is a doctor, and they live near hospitals, so they will get support. I can’t go that path.

People my age are having organ removals and getting prosthetic implantations. I am shocked!! You are 40, and look like 30, but your health is like that of 70! makes total sense.

You could have avoided those fixes, like my parents were in one piece, intact till seventies.

In my recent India visit, voluntarily I started consultation sessions with a lot of people, who I saw were drenching themselves with chemicals as perfume, deodorant, sunscreen. They had gout, depression, stomach ulcers, grey hair. Largely self-made, I would say.

All those high-earning, globetrotting folks are totally ignorant about immune stem, and inflammation. I am not surprised. You learn, what you focus on.

My 5-year-old daughter avoids scents, for she has been taught. She instinctively hates strong smells, which bother her greatly.

As a well-wisher, I want you to avoid problems through inflammation knowledge. If you refuse to listen to a researcher, you deserve your pain. As for me, I will keep sharing the health awareness nuggets.