重點摘要
- 急性發炎是受傷後短時間的紅、熱、腫、痛；慢性發炎則可能持續數月到數年，不一定有明顯症狀。
- 慢性發炎與心血管疾病、第二型糖尿病、阿茲海默症、關節炎、慢性腎臟病與自體免疫疾病都有關，也可能表現為疲倦、失眠、全身痠痛。
- 管理方向包括醫療處置，以及飲食、運動、戒菸限酒、減壓與營養狀態評估。
發炎是身體防禦機制的一部分：免疫系統藉此辨識並清除有害或外來的刺激，並啟動修復的過程。
Inflammation is part of the body's defense mechanism. It is the process by which the immune system recognizes and removes harmful and foreign stimuli and begins the healing process.
發炎分為急性與慢性兩種。一般人最熟悉的是急性發炎：受傷後短時間內，組織或關節周圍出現紅、熱、腫、痛。慢性發炎則是持續性的發炎，可能延續數月、甚至數年。
There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic. People are most familiar with acute inflammation. This is the redness, warmth, swelling, and pain around tissues and joints that occurs in response to an injury in the short period. Chronic inflammation is known as a persistent form of inflammation that endures for months or even years.
發炎可能導致多種慢性疾病，包括心血管疾病、第二型糖尿病、阿茲海默症、關節炎、過敏、慢性腎臟病與多種自體免疫疾病。除了身體上的症狀，也可能以慢性的不適表現出來，例如疲倦、憂鬱、失眠、全身痠痛、腸胃問題、反覆感染，以及沒有預警的體重變化。
Inflammation can lead to a variety of chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's, arthritis, allergies, chronic kidney disease and several autoimmune disorders. In addition to physical symptoms, they can also manifest as chronic illnesses like fatigue, depression, insomnia, body pain, gastrointestinal issues, frequent infections, and weight changes without warning.
降低發炎的方向Inflammation can be reduced through: medical interventions, natural approaches and lifestyle changes
醫療處置Medical interventions
在急性與慢性疾病中，醫師常會使用多種藥物來降低發炎。這些藥物作用在不同的發炎路徑上，並依疾病的嚴重度與類型來使用。
A variety of drugs are routinely used to reduce inflammation in both acute and chronic illnesses. These drugs act by targeting multiple inflammatory pathways and are administered based on the severity and type of disease.
自然方式與生活型態：飲食、運動與減壓Natural approaches and lifestyle changes involve the use of diets, exercises and stress reduction
- 飲食上，可以攝取 omega-3 脂肪酸與富含抗氧化物的食物，例如藍莓、蘋果、球芽甘藍、高麗菜、青花菜、白花椰菜、豆類，以及薑黃素等香料；地中海飲食也是常被推薦的飲食型態。
- 避免吸菸與飲酒，並降低壓力。
- 運動是管理急性與慢性發炎的重要一環。
- 評估營養狀態：鎂、維生素 D、維生素 E、鋅與硒等微量營養素，是全身細胞代謝中重要的酵素輔因子。
- Dietary approaches to reduce inflammation include omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries, apples, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, beans and spices such as curcumin and the Mediterranean diet.
- Avoiding smoking and alcohol and reducing stress levels.
- Exercise is an essential component in management of acute and chronic inflammation.
- In order to determine nutritional status, micronutrients such as magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc and selenium are crucial as enzyme cofactors in the metabolism of all cells in the body.
編者註
發炎程度可以透過抽血了解，例如高敏感度 C 反應蛋白（hs-CRP）。鎂、維生素 D、鋅等營養素是否需要補充，建議先檢測再決定，不必自行大量補充；正在服藥的人，也要留意保健品與藥物的交互作用。
參考文獻References
- Pahwa R, Goyal A, Jialal I. Chronic Inflammation. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL); 2025. PMID: 29630225.
- Punchard, N.A., Whelan, C.J. & Adcock, I. The Journal of Inflammation. J Inflamm 1, 1 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-9255-1-1
- McMillan DC, Maguire D, Talwar D. Relationship between nutritional status and the systemic inflammatory response: micronutrients. Proc Nutr Soc. 2019 Feb;78(1):56-67.
- Ahmed, A.U. An overview of inflammation: mechanism and consequences. Front. Biol. 6, 274–281 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-011-1123-9
什麼情況該就醫？
- 長期疲倦、睡不好、全身痠痛，休息後仍沒有改善
- 反覆感染，或傷口不容易癒合
- 沒有刻意控制，體重卻明顯變化
- 已有三高、糖尿病或心血管疾病，想了解自己的發炎狀態
本文為衛教資訊，不能取代醫師診斷與治療。若有身體不適，請尋求醫療專業協助。各項檢測與治療需經醫師評估，效果因人而異。
英文原文由本院國際健康諮詢顧問 Menaf 撰寫（Menaf 未具中華民國醫師證書，不在台灣執行診斷與治療）；中文由日安健康編譯，「編者註」為日安健康補充的說明與台灣相關建議。