Happy New Year!! Are you one who makes New Year’s resolutions? There is something exciting about the start of a new year. Whether or not you are a “resolutionist”, surely you would agree that the beginning of a new year feels like a fresh start, a new beginning, or even a do-over.
Vows for better health often accompany the new year. Whether it is weight loss, getting in shape, exercise, eating healthier, or whatever your new year health focus may be…We all tend to make these vows in an effort to “do better”.
If you have a health-focused resolution, we would like to challenge you to “do better” this year by focusing on your own personal health education. Take control of your overall health and wellness by asking some questions and seeking the answers. Questions like:
Have you ever eaten something that caused an allergic reaction?
Have you ever taken medication or undergone a medical procedure and got a rash or experienced some other side effect or symptom?
How about a mosquito bite, a splinter, a virus infection, a bruise, a broken bone?
When these things happen, your body produces an inflammatory response like swelling, redness, pain, and heat. Inflammation is a vital part of the immune system’s response to injury and infection. It is the body’s way of signaling the immune system to heal and repair damaged tissue, as well as defend itself against foreign invaders. When the body senses danger, the immune system kicks into gear and attacks it. This is called an immune response.
Everyone has immune responses as our bodies are constantly working to defend against all foreign invaders. For most of us, our immune systems work properly. For others, healthy cells and tissues are caught up in this response. Normally, the immune system can tell the difference between foreign cells and your own cells. However, if you have an autoimmune disease your immune system mistakenly attacks your own cells, creating a vicious cycle of chronic inflammation and destruction of healthy cells instead of repair or healing.