Professor Janet Lord

So if you cut yourself...

You have inflammation and it stimulates repair processes.

Its other key function is in combating infections.

So inflammation really stimulates your immune system, directs it in the correct way.

So is your infection a bacteria or is it a virus?

And depending on which it is, the immune system will then be educated to behave in a particular way.

And inflammation is important to that.

But that's all acute inflammation.

It's rapid.

It goes away when the problem is resolved.

So when your cut has healed itself, when the infection has been cleared, it subsides.

This inflammation is there at a very low level.

And it's there for years and years.

So if you don't turn that inflammation off, then unfortunately it can be damaging.

So, for example, too much inflammation will actually suppress your immune system.

So I'm going to give you two examples.

So one thing, as I've said, the inflammation can actually suppress your immune systems.

So you're more susceptible to infections.

And when you actually get an infection, it takes you longer to clear it.

So again, most of your viewers will know if you're a 20 or 30 year old and you get flu, you have a week or two in bed, you have a few duvet days, but then you're fine.