Immune Health - Chronic Inflammation Flashcards
Q: What are the five cardinal signs of inflammation?
A: Redness, heat, oedema (swelling), pain, and loss of function.
Q: How does chronic inflammation differ from acute inflammation?
A: Chronic inflammation persists over time and contributes to diseases like cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer.
Q: What lifestyle factors contribute to chronic inflammation?
A: Poor diet (high refined sugar, trans fats, low omega-3), stress, obesity, sleep deprivation, and environmental toxins.
Q: How does stress affect inflammation?
A: Chronic stress causes glucocorticoid receptor resistance, preventing proper downregulation of inflammatory responses.
Q: What are common medical treatments for chronic inflammation?
A: NSAIDs, corticosteroids, and DMARDs, though they have significant side effects like gastrointestinal bleeding and immune suppression.
Q: How does turmeric help with chronic inflammation?
A: Turmeric blocks NF-kB activation, inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines, and may reduce joint inflammation.
Q: What natural supplements can help reduce chronic inflammation?
A: Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, and probiotics.
Q: Why is a high-fiber diet beneficial for inflammation?
A: Fiber supports gut health, reduces endotoxemia, and promotes beneficial gut bacteria, which can lower inflammation.
Q: What is the purpose of inflammation in the body?
A: Inflammation is a normal immune response that localizes, eliminates, and heals affected tissue after damage or infection.
Q: What happens when inflammation is not properly resolved?
A: Unresolved inflammation can lead to chronic inflammation, causing systemic dysfunction and contributing to diseases like cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune conditions.
Q: What are key inflammatory mediators?
A: Cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), histamine, kinins (bradykinin), and Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-kB).
Q: What role does NF-kB play in chronic inflammation?
A: NF-kB activates gene transcription, upregulating inflammatory processes and contributing to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Q: How do eicosanoids influence inflammation?
A: Eicosanoids, derived from omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, include prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, and lipoxins, which regulate the degree of inflammation.
Q: What is the role of lipoxins in inflammation resolution?
A: Lipoxins downregulate NF-kB and other immune responses, helping to switch off inflammation.
Q: What are common symptoms of chronic inflammation?
A: Persistent pain, joint stiffness, swelling, redness, heat, and systemic signs like fatigue.
Q: How can chronic inflammation be diagnosed?
A: Through GP tests like high CRP, WBC, ESR, fibrinogen, and functional tests such as hsCRP and omega-6:3 ratio.
Q: What genetic factors can predispose someone to chronic inflammation?
A: Polymorphisms in genes like FADS1/2, IL-6, IL-13, TNF-⍺, HLA, and VDR.
Q: How does the Western diet contribute to chronic inflammation?
A: High refined sugar, trans fats, and omega-6-heavy diets increase oxidative stress, inflammation, and production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids.
Q: Why does obesity increase inflammation?
A: Adipose tissue releases pro-inflammatory cytokines, contributing to a state of chronic low-grade inflammation.
Q: How does chronic stress impact inflammation?
A: It causes glucocorticoid receptor resistance, preventing cortisol from effectively reducing inflammation.
Q: How does sleep affect inflammation?
A: Poor sleep quality or short sleep duration raises levels of inflammatory markers like CRP, IL-6, fibrinogen, and TNF-⍺.
Q: What environmental factors contribute to chronic inflammation?
A: Oxidative stress from air pollution, smoking, alcohol, and high toxic load exposure.
Q: How does metabolic endotoxemia promote inflammation?
A: It raises LPS (lipopolysaccharides) in the blood, which interacts with toll-like receptors, triggering chronic inflammation.
Q: What is the relationship between sex hormones and inflammation?
A: Estrogen is generally anti-inflammatory, while low testosterone in men can promote inflammation.
Q: What are the risks of long-term NSAID use?
A: Gastrointestinal bleeding, peptic ulcers, renal damage, and cardiovascular risks.
Q: How do corticosteroids help with inflammation?
A: They inhibit inflammatory proteins by blocking NF-kB and reducing cytokine activity.
Q: What are the side effects of corticosteroids?
A: Weight gain, diabetes, hypertension, visual disturbances, and osteoporosis.
Q: What are DMARDs, and how do they work?
A: Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs like methotrexate and azathioprine suppress inflammation but can cause bone marrow suppression and increased infection risk.
Q: What are the core naturopathic strategies for managing chronic inflammation?
A: Blood sugar stabilization, gut health support, antioxidant intake, stress management, and immune function support.
Q: How does turmeric help reduce inflammation?
A: It blocks NF-kB activation, inhibits IL-1β and IL-6, and may have antimicrobial benefits.
Q: What is the difference between turmeric and curcumin?
A: Curcumin is the key antioxidant component of turmeric, but whole turmeric may have broader therapeutic effects.
Q: How does ginger support inflammation reduction?
A: Ginger inhibits TNF-α and PGE-2 by blocking COX-2, reducing joint inflammation and pain.
Q: What is the anti-inflammatory role of plant sterols?
A: They lower IL-6, CRP, and TNF-α levels in some studies.
Q: How does Boswellia reduce inflammation?
A: It inhibits 5-LOX, decreasing leukotriene production and improving joint function.
Q: What is the benefit of oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs)?
A: They inhibit COX-2, reduce ROS, and support tissue structure.
Q: How do omega-3 fatty acids (especially EPA) combat inflammation?
A: They inhibit NF-kB, TNF-α, and interleukin-6, shifting the balance toward anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.
Q: How does vitamin D regulate inflammation?
A: It enhances tolerogenic factors in dendritic cells, improves T-reg cell function, and decreases inflammatory cytokines.
Q: What other natural compounds help reduce inflammation?
A: Quercetin, reishi mushroom, probiotics, and adequate intake of zinc, magnesium, B3, B6, and vitamin C.
Q: How do probiotics help with chronic inflammation?
A: They lower inflammatory markers like TNF-α and IL-6 and support gut health.
