# Inflammation --- **Inflammation** is a rush of [[blood]] fluids and helpful proteins to the effected area as part of an [[immune system|immune response]] to [[injury]] or bacterial [[infection]]. The signs of inflammation are redness, [[edema]], heat, [[pain]], and potentially loss of function. The extra fluids cause the edema, and the added pressure on the nerves as well as the release of [[prostaglandins]] cause the pain. Strategic cell death (i.e. apoptosis) does not trigger inflammation, but accidental cell death, or [[necrosis]], does. The damaged cells leak out chemical signals that produce vasodilation, and [[mast cells]] can also respond to the injury by degranulating and releasing [[histamine]], yet another vasodilator. ## The Immune Response The [[adaptive immune system|immune response]] is activated if there are any [[pathogen|pathogens]] present in an injury, and the first stage of this is inflammation. [[Mast cells]] living in the interstitial tissue bind to the bacteria with their [[toll-like receptor]] and immediately degranulate, releasing [[histamine]]. The loosened-up blood vessels allow [[neutrophils]] [[macrophages]], [[complement protein|complement proteins]], and [[antibodies]] factors rush in. Neutrophils and macrophages get to work eating up the bacteria, and release [[cytokines]] to allow for [[chemotaxis]] of the complement proteins and antibodies. ![[inflammation immune cells.png]] ## The Dangers of Prolonged Inflammation Prolonged inflammation can actually be really harmful to us. One reason is that by having the blood vessels dilating for such a long time lowers the [[blood pressure]] too much. Another reason is that, with the increased activity of [[white blood cells]], as time goes on it increases the chance that they will attack healthy cells. Prolonged inflammation also increases the concentration of [[antioxidant|oxygen radicals]]—a byproduct of phagocytosis—which can cause problems, including cancer. ## Labs to Check for Inflammation - [[erythrocyte sedimentation rate]] - [[c-reactive protein]] ___