system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:If people's first reaction to swelling is to try to lower it then why does our body find it beneficial when we are injured?
gpt
The body doesn't actually find it beneficial to swell. When you get injured, fluid leaks into that area as a result of the injury (the injury basically causes holes in things such as blood vessels). This isn't actually helpful to fixing the problem, and it causes increased pain, and loss of mobility. Reducing the swelling means that excess fluid is drained quicker so you can get back on your feet faster, and with less pain.

Edit: With bites/infections, it's a different story altogether, and it's not beneficial to try and reduce the swelling.