Many would consider inflammation to be a negative thing. It’s understandable why as the process of inflammation is often experienced in the body as uncomfortable or painful. Swelling, loss of function, pain, heat and redness are the five classic signs of inflammation (none of which anyone would describe as being pleasant). The presence of inflammation has also been associated with chronic disease (such as heart disease and diabetes). Despite these things, inflammation is a natural and important process in the body and plays a role in both health and disease. It’s made up of a series of actions that the body uses to work to protect and heal itself.