Inflammation (Latin,Ä«nflammLΤ, "I ignite, set alight") is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. The classical signs of acute inflammation are pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process. Inflammation is not a synonym for infection, even though the two are often correlated (the former often being a result of the latter), and despite the fact that words ending in the suffix -itis (which refers to inflammation) are sometimes informally described as referring to infection. (For example, the word urethritis means only "urethral inflammation", but because most cases are caused by infection, even health care providers may heuristically tell a patient "it means you have an infection.") Although infection is caused by a microorganism, inflammation is one of the responses of the organism to the pathogen. Inflammation can even occur in the absence of infection (such as in atherosclerosis), although such types of inflammation are usually maladaptive. Inflammation is a stereotyped response, and therefore it is considered as a mechanism of innate immunity, as compared to adaptive immunity, which is specific for each pathogen. Progressive destruction of the tissue would compromise the survival of the organism. However, chronic inflammation can also lead to a host of diseases, such as hay fever, periodontitis, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer (e.g., gallbladder carcinoma). It is for that reason that inflammation is normally closely regulated by the body. Inflammation can be classified as eitheracute or chronic. Acute inflammation is the initial response of the body to harmful stimuli and is achieved by the increased movement of plasma and leukocytes (especially granulocytes) from the blood into the injured tissues. A cascade of biochemical events propagates and matures the inflammatory response, involving the local vascular system, the immune system, and various cells within the injured tissue. Prolonged inflammation, known as chronic inflammation, leads to a progressive shift in the type of cells present at the site of inflammation and is characterized by simultaneous destruction and healing of the tissue from the inflammatory process. An OSH glossary used in safety and health at work which is, adopted by ILO