Justin Dobson, Ph.D(c), CSCS, SCCC Inflammation is a natural response to stress put on the body. It is the first step in the body’s healing process, in which repair cells are directed from the blood into the injured tissue. Acute (short-lived) inflammation is necessary, but problems arise when inflammation persists (chronic inflammation). Besides rheumatoid arthritis or tendonitis, chronic inflammation accompanies many other disease states, such as atherosc...