Inflammation and Rheumatology

Inflammation is a vital biological process that protects the body from infections, injuries, and harmful stimuli. When the body detects danger e.g. pathogens, toxins, or tissue damage. it triggers an immediate defensive reaction known as acute inflammation, bringing immune cells and signalling molecules like cytokines to the affected area. This produces familiar symptoms including redness, swelling, warmth, and pain, and typically resolves within hours or days as healing begins.

Unlike the rapid and temporary nature of acute inflammation, chronic inflammation occurs when the body’s immune response remains switched on for too long. This prolonged activity can last months or even years, gradually damaging healthy tissues. Chronic inflammation may develop due to autoimmune diseases, long‑standing infections, ongoing exposure to irritants, or lifestyle factors such as poor diet, smoking, stress, and physical inactivity. Symptoms are often subtle—such as fatigue, ongoing aches, digestive issues, or weight changes—but over time this persistent inflammation can contribute to serious conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis