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Inflammation In the Body: What You Need To Know
Inflammation In the Body: What You Need To Know Inflammation means to, “set on fire.” If there was no acute inflammation, wounds and cuts would never heal properly. However, on-going inflammation or chronic inflammation can lead to a wide range of diseases – hay fever, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis. Understanding Acute and Chronic Inflammation: Acute inflammation: Acute inflammation is the body’s first response to a harmful stimuli or foreign invader. It is primarily responded by the immune system with leukocytes (HBD: Battle with the Bugs) and/or the circulatory system from the blood into the injured tissues (HBD: A Heart Pumping Adventure). For example, if you sprain your ankle, chemicals form and…
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Ask the Doctor: Aspartame and Inflammation
Ask the Doctor: Question: A friend has terrible leg and foot pain and she is wondering if aspartame is a contributing factor. What are your thoughts? Thank you for your question! Aspartame must be eliminated; however, something needs to be replaced otherwise other symptoms may arise (headaches). I suggest to all of my patients to avoid all processed, man-made sugar alternatives as research shows many side effects – one being inflammation – and the long term effects can be much worse. Eating raw honey and maple syrup are perfect alternatives; they are sweet yet packed with nutrients that the body can use. With her bursitis and pain, there are…
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Rheumatoid Arthritis: What is It and How to Treat It
Ask the Doctor: Question: My mom has rheumatoid arthritis, what is it? Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is when the immune system – which protects our bodies from bacteria and viruses – begins attacking its own tissues, and with RA, it specifically attacks joints. The result is fluid in the joints that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and inflammation. Many people confuse RA with osteoarthritis but they differ; RA is more common and immune based whereas osteo arthritis is due to wear and tear of a joint. What are the symptoms? The symptoms and course of rheumatoid arthritis vary from person to person. Morning stiffness…
