Index
Refers to the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation or swelling.
Anti-inflammatory drugs make up about half of painkillers, which relieve pain by reducing inflammation compared to opioids, which affect the central nervous system to block pain that sends signals to the brain.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
The nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alleviate pain by counteracting the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme. On its own, the COX enzyme synthesizes prostaglandins, creating inflammation. Together, NSAIDs prevent prostaglandins from being synthesized, reducing or eliminating pain.
Some common examples of NSAIDs are aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen . The newer specific COX inhibitors are not classified alongside traditional NSAIDs even though they presumably share the same mode of action.
Side effects
Long-term use of NSAIDs can cause gastric erosions, which can turn into stomach ulcers, and in extreme cases can cause severe bleeding, which can lead to death.
The risk of death as a result of gastrointestinal bleeding caused by NSAID use is 1 in 12,000 for adults ages 16 to 45. The risk increases almost twenty times for those over 75.
Other dangers of NSAIDs are exacerbating asthma and causing kidney damage. In addition to aspirin, prescription and nonprescription NSAIDs also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke .
Antileucotrienos
Anti-leukotrienes are anti-inflammatory agents that function as enzyme inhibitors related to leukotrienes or antagonists of the leukotriene receptor (cysteinyl leukotriene receptors) and consequently oppose the function of these inflammatory mediators.
Although they are not used for analgesic benefits, they are widely used in the treatment of diseases related to inflammation of the lungs, such as asthma and COPD, as well as sinus inflammation in allergic rhinitis.
They are also being investigated for use in diseases and injuries that involve inflammation of the brain (for example, Parkinson’s disease).
Other anti-inflammatory treatments
Ice treatment
Applying ice, or even cold water, to a tissue injury has an anti-inflammatory effect and is often suggested as an injury treatment and pain management technique for athletes.
A common approach is rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Cold temperatures inhibit local blood circulation, reducing swelling in injured tissue.
Health supplements
In addition to medications, some herbs and health supplements may have anti-inflammatory qualities:
- Pineapple bromelain.
- Cannabichromene, a cannabinoid, also has an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Honokiol from Magnolia: inhibits platelet aggregation and functions as an inverse agonist at the CB2 receptor.
- Black seed has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect due to its high thymoquinone content.
- The main component of St. John’s wort, hyperforin, has been found to be a potent inhibitor of COX-1 and 5-LO, with an anti-inflammatory effect several times greater than that of aspirin.
- Coal tar has been used for centuries for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects.
Anti-inflammatory foods
Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances that affect the body in various ways, and they also regulate inflammatory mediation.
An anti-inflammatory diet includes fewer foods that create inflammation-causing prostaglandins (PGE2) in the body and more foods that create anti-inflammatory prostaglandins (PGE1 and PGE3).
Suggested diets to reduce inflammation include those that are rich in vegetables and low in simple carbohydrates, and fats such as saturated fat and trans fat.
Anti-inflammatory foods include most colorful fruits and vegetables, oily fish (which contain higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids), nuts, seeds, and certain spices, such as ginger, garlic, and cayenne pepper.
Extra virgin olive oil contains the chemical oleocanthal that acts in a similar way to ibuprofen. Those on an anti-inflammatory diet will avoid refined oils and sugars and show a preference for so-called anti-inflammatory foods in their food choices.
Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to disrupt inflammatory cell signaling pathways by binding to the GPR120 receptor.
However, this benefit can be inhibited or even reversed if the Omega-6 / Omega-3 ratio is too high since Omega-6 serves as a precursor to inflammatory chemicals (prostaglandin and eicosanoids leukotrienes) in the body.
A high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fat in the diet changes the physiological state of tissues towards the pathogenesis of many diseases: prothrombotic, proinflammatory and proconstrictive.
Exercise
Research has shown that many of the benefits of exercise are mediated by skeletal muscle’s role as an endocrine organ.
That is, the contraction of muscles releases multiple substances known as myokines that promote new tissue growth, tissue repair, and various anti-inflammatory functions, which in turn reduce the risk of developing various inflammatory diseases.
Interactions
NSAID patients should try to avoid excessive consumption of foods containing Omega-6.
Although many of these foods also contain the anti-inflammatory Omega-3, low doses of Omega-6 interfere with Omega-3’s ability to reduce inflammation, while higher doses are able to completely inhibit the effects of most of the ingredients. currently used anti-inflammatory agents.
