To understand why the evolving technology called red light therapy is considered an effective treatment for wounds, injuries, inflammation, and associated problems, it’s important first to understand the inflammation and how it affects our bodies.
What is Inflammation?
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Most of the time, the terms inflammation and swelling are used interchangeably, but these are two different phenomena. Inflammation is our body’s defensive response against an injury or infection.
When a bacteria, virus, or any pointed object hurts our bodies, white cells start providing certain chemicals to the blood that causes a rise in blood flow, leads to redness and warmth in the affected area. Also, the damaged cells release certain chemicals that allow our blood vessels to leak some fluids into the tissues that can cause swelling.
This means that if any of your body parts are hurt or infected, the inflammation may begin. The common signs of inflammation include redness, heat, swelling, pain, or a loss of function in the area.
Types Of Inflammation
The inflammation can be either acute or chronic. Any inflammation that lasts for a few days is called acute inflammation and is considered beneficial for recovery. However, during the healing process, you may experience some pain in the area. But in case the inflammatory response to the body is not normal or is prolonged due to any reason, it can turn to be chronic.
In case of chronic inflammation, your body can start damaging healthy cells. This may lead to several other issues such as cancer or certain autoimmune diseases, namely Multiple sclerosis or Dermatomyositis.
It is also essential to know that there are certain risk factors for chronic inflammation including age, stress, lack of sleep, and imbalanced sex hormones. In any such instances, the condition may worsen or becomes difficult to handle.
How to Control Inflammation?
Long-term inflammation can harm our bodies in various ways. Constant body pain, fatigue, mood disorders, gastrointestinal issues, frequent infection, and weight gain can disturb daily life functions.
To overcome these problems, your physician may suggest treatment options that may include:
- Controlling pain through NSAIDs, aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Midol), or naproxen (Aleve) or through topical analgesics and creams.
- Controlling sleep disorders
- Managing stress and fatigue
- Exercising to control obesity and improving blood circulation
- Taking supplements to stay active in older age
- Controlling smoking
- Using hot or cold therapies to comfort injuries or swellings
Here comes the role of red light therapy because studies suggest that it is one of the safest modes of treatment for inflammation.
What is Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy is considered to be the most effective non-invasive form of treatment to control inflammation and associated problems.
Also known as low-level laser therapy or photobiomodulation (PBM), red light therapy is a simple technique during which your body is exposed to the RLT device. This light panel emits red or near-infrared light, which is absorbed into the skin and accelerates cellular functions. Once the body cells are soaked in the light particles, the cell’s powerhouse mitochondria are activated, increasing ATP production. This helps cells improve their health and perform at their best.
This whole process is inspired by the natural phenomena of exposing the body to light energy without the influx of chemicals in your body.
Why Avoid Medicines for Inflammation?
Inflammation medicines can only temporarily control the apparent symptoms such as pain or swelling and don’t actually improve cellular function or biological processes. This suggests that it’s not a permanent solution or doesn’t improve the physical condition with time.
That’s why many people are looking to opt for solutions that can produce long-lasting positive changes in the body. They are taking care of their diets, trying to exercise daily, and are exposing themselves to natural light that is a way to cure body ailments.
Red Light Therapy Effects on Inflammation and Related Factors
The results of RLT are multi-dimensional, and all of them collectively contribute to minimizing the associated problems and risk factors of inflammation.
Red Light Therapy Promotes the Healing Process
Research suggests that red and near-infrared light can activate the cell’s protective mechanism. The energy that the cells receive from red light therapy products promotes the production of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, which help speed up the healing process.
RLT Control Pain and Swelling
For centuries, sunlight is considered a source of cure for many diseases, from sleep disorders to controlling swelling and pains. The RLT is the same thing, but the only difference is that light, in this case, is obtained from an artificial resource through cutting-edge technology. Moreover, it doesn’t have harmful UVA/UVB rays that are found in natural sunlight.
One stage of inflammation is pain, which can last long in the case of chronic inflammation. Red light therapy is a proven way to improve blood flow and reduce pain for both acute and chronic inflammatory pain. In fact, there is evidence of treating chronic pain associated with Achilles tendonitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other forms of joint pain with red light therapy.
RLT Helps Make You Activate and Energetic
The RLT is useful in activating your body functions and making you more energetic as you have better blood circulation. This activity level keeps your body warm and you feel less pain as a result.
RLT Helps Control Sleep Disorder
Loss of sleep can make your immune system turn against healthy tissue and organs, and resultantly, it can trigger tissue-damaging inflammation in your body. Red light therapy helps your body to release a sleep hormone called Melatonin. Once you have your sleep in check, you have fewer chances to suffer from any immune disorder.
RLT Helps Balance Sex Hormone
Sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen can help control pro-inflammatory agents, and if you can maintain healthy sex hormone levels, you have lower chances of getting inflammatory diseases. RLT has proven to be an effective treatment to regulate sex hormones.
RLT Helps with Controlling the Stress
Stress, both physical and emotional, is associated with the release of inflammatory cytokines. Once you can control stress levels, you can even handle chronic inflammation. Red light therapy is said to activate the happy hormone in your body, called Serotonin. This manages your mood swings and soothes anxiety. From this perspective too, red light therapy is a practical option.
Minimize the Effect of Aging
People who are aging start experiencing mitochondrial dysfunction, and with red light therapy, it is possible to promote energy levels in cells by activating these powerhouses once again. This will help manage inflammation even at older ages because the body is active and is functioning properly.
Conclusion
Together with a healthy lifestyle, red light therapy can help you improve energy production and repair tissues and organs. This can have a long-lasting positive impact on the body’s inflammation and eliminate the pains, swelling, and redness within a reasonable time.