Balance of inflammation in blood vessels, illustration

Illustration titled 'Peace through anarchy' depicts the balance of inflammation in blood vessels. Three states; anarchy (Circle-A symbol; left), balance (yin-yang; centre) and peace (CND symbol; right) are shown, each essential for the health and wellbeing of our blood vessels. Anarchy represents the formation of networks of new blood vessels from existing ones (angiogenesis). This process is an essential part of normal growth and development and also plays a key role in wound healing after injury or disease. Yin yang represents the constant fine balance the immune system faces, to detect and destroy foreign, harmful organisms which enter the body but at the same time leave the body's own healthy tissues unharmed. Inflammation is the body's response to tissue damage or injury e.g. vasculitis, inflammation of blood vessels. Maintaining this balance results in healthy blood vessels. This peaceful state can however also become problematic if the body is unable to rapidly respond to disease.