Inflammation is a condition where your body attempts to protect itself and heal the pain caused from an injury or infection. Some of the common symptoms of inflammation that may occur are swelling, irritated skin, severe pain and loss of function or full movement of that particular body part.

Chronic inflammation, however, harms rather than heals, because the immune system attack never stops. It’s like being shot by “friendly fire” during a perpetual war raging inside the body, says Dr. Schauer.

Picture a sneak attack on your joints and blood vessels causing tender, throbbing, hotspots that are wreaking havoc on the areas of your body that were once pain free.