Inflammation is best described as a defense mechanism to limit tissue damage. It can be caused by infection, injury or immune conditions. In each case, inflammation is result of your immune system responding to another event.

When such an event occurs, a special cell called a neutrophil targets damaged cells and releases a proinflammatory cytokine ( a natural substance used by body for immune regulation ). This attracts more neutophil and begins a cycle of communication between neutrophil and macrophage ( a type of cell in your immune system that works to protect against infection and from toxins ). These signals are generated using structures composed of glyconutrients. This cycle would apply to inflammation of cells in a vein, thyroid, intestine, liver, a muscle, scalp, or any other collection of cells that are given a name.

When we take a drug or an herbal to "stop inflammation," we are really interrupting natural process where body is sending out signals to other helper cells to say "Hey, come deal with this." We are also interrupting natural process where body is sending signals to us saying "take it easy, we have something that needs care." Certainly inflammation can be a discomfort and an annoyance but importance of inflammation as part of immune response cannot be overstated.

Or to turn it around - How does improving your sleep lessen symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)?

Our aim here is to understand connection between two as it may be possible to confuse symptoms of CFS and sleep deprivation. There are however definite differences.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms

Constant and persistent fatigue lasting 6 months or more

Feeling feverish

Sore throat

Muscle aches and pains

Tender or swollen lymph nodes

Joint pain

More headaches than usual

Abnormal lethargy after exercise

Poor concentration

Depression

Poor quality sleep

Although not everyone who suffers with CFS will display all of above, two or more of these symptoms would definitely bear further investigation.

CFS often follows a bout of flu or other respitory disease. It occurs more frequently in middle age and twice as often in women as men.

CFS is a debilitating illness which is hard to diagnose due to symptoms being non specific. Also symptoms described by sufferers often cannot be verified. For instance, patients often describe feeling feverish although their temperature is normal. Recent studies indicate CFS may in fact be an immune disorder.

There are medical practitioners who still believe it to be a disease of "malingerers". In fact some of those suffering with CFS often wonder sometimes if they are imagining their symptoms. But CFS is very real and can lead to broken marriages and wrecked careers.