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"You're just inflamed." If you've heard that and walked away with more questions than answers, this episode is for you.

This kicks off a month-long series on inflammation, one of my favorite topics to nerd out on. Inflammation is one of the most overused and least understood words in health. Too often it's treated as the end of the conversation, when it should be the beginning.

In this episode, I break down what inflammation really is: a normal, protective immune response that your body needs to heal. It can also go sideways and stick around far longer than it should. Using a fire analogy, we look at the cast of characters inside your immune system. There are the "arsonists" that light the fire, the "firefighters" that put it out, and the accelerants and retardants that turn the flame up or down. You'll learn why chronic inflammation shows up so differently from person to person, and why there's no one-size-fits-all fix.

Being in a state of chronic inflammation doesn't mean you have to stay there. It just means that's where you are right now.

In this episode

• The difference between acute inflammation and chronic inflammation
• Three ways inflammation can go wrong
• Signs of acute inflammation
• Signs of chronic inflammation
• Conditions linked to chronic inflammation, from endometriosis and autoimmune disease to IBD, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
• Why inflammation is never random: it's always your immune system responding to something
• The immune "fire crew": frontline pro-inflammatory cells, resolving cells like M2 macrophages and T regulatory cells, and the molecular signals (DAMPs, PAMPs, SAMPs) that turn the fire up or down
• Why balance, not elimination, is the goal

Timestamps

• 00:00 Welcome and the October inflammation series
• 01:14 What inflammation is (and isn't)
• 02:05 Acute vs. chronic inflammation
• 03:28 The fire analogy, and three ways inflammation goes wrong
• 06:03 What acute inflammation looks and feels like
• 07:35 Signs and symptoms of chronic inflammation
• 08:58 How common this is, and conditions linked to chronic inflammation
• 10:35 Why understanding your body matters
• 11:24 Inflammation is your immune system at work
• 12:40 Meet the arsonists, firefighters, accelerants, and retardants
• 15:39 What happens when the balance tips
• 18:01 What's coming up in the series

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Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. This may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.