Just Swell There's more to inflammation than meets the eye BY AMY MOTTERAM While inflammation seems like a bad thing-with so many diets and lifestyle tips aimed at reducing it-that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, inflammation serves as an essential tactic used by your body's defense system. That is, most of the time. What Is Inflammation? 54 FA L L 2 0 1 9 PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES When you fall and sprain your ankle-you can thank inflammation for the swelling. If you catch a cold, inflammation of the tonsils is likely the cause of your sore throat. It's everyday situations like these that cause acute inflammation, or your body's shortterm immune response to an illness or injury. In other words, inflammation is simply a process that allows your body to protect, heal and repair itself. At least that's what it's supposed to do, in theory. But what happens when this process extends beyond the initial healing period? Or it's triggered without the presence of an illness or injury? That's when chronic inflammation settles in, which can cause major problems for your health. Rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease are just two examples of conditions caused by chronic inflammation. It can also lead to an increased risk of heart disease and cancer. With that in mind, let's take a closer look at some of the most common conditions that are spurred on by chronic inflammation: