Inflammation and Heart Health: Serious as a Heart Attack

Reviewed by: Dr. Steven Knauf, D.C.

By: Brandi Goodman

When your cardiovascular system isn't in top shape, it can throw a wrench into how your whole body operates. Both your mind and body feel the impact.

We all know the basics of heart health—eat well, stay active—and yes, those are non-negotiables. But there’s one more piece to the puzzle: reducing inflammation.

Why does inflammation matter? Chronic inflammation can put a serious strain on your heart, setting off a chain reaction of health issues you definitely want to avoid.

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is your body's natural way of dealing with damage or injury—think of it as your internal repair team. Acute inflammation is part of the healing process, and it’s a good thing. But when inflammation sticks around too long, it turns into a problem. That’s what we call chronic inflammation, and it can actually do more harm than good.

So, what's the difference? Acute inflammation is short-term and helps your body recover, like when you sprain an ankle and it swells up to heal. Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is long-term and happens when your immune system gets stuck in overdrive. It mistakenly sends white blood cells to attack healthy tissues, which can wreak havoc on your body. Left unchecked, chronic inflammation can lead to serious issues like cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disorders, and even some cancers—all of which can have a lasting impact on your heart health.

Causes of inflammation of the blood vessels

Inflammation of the blood vessels, also called vasculitis, can be triggered by various causes. Giant cell arteritis is specific to the head, with arteries near the temples becoming inflamed. Certain medications, infections, autoimmune diseases, Kawasaki disease, cancers, and even poor diet, have the potential to inflame your blood vessels and affect blood flow. If blood flow is restricted for too long, it can cause damage to surrounding tissues and organs, especially your heart. A heart attack or stroke is a serious concern in this instance.

Risk factors for heart disease

There are already risk factors at play for heart disease. If a family member has had heart disease or a heart attack in the past, for example, then it increases the chances of a relative also experiencing it. Be aware of other risk factors for inflammation, including:

• Obesity
• Old age
• An unhealthy diet
  • Saturated fats
  • Refined carbohydrates
  • Fried foods
  • Red meat
  • Processed snacks
• Smoking
• Chronic stress
• Poor sleep
• Low levels of physical activity

If you have any of these risk factors, start doing what you can to reduce them to lower your chances for chronic inflammation and heart disease.

How inflammation affecting blood vessels can be diagnosed and monitored

Diagnosis of vasculitis is possible through various tests. A doctor will perform a physical exam, ask you questions related to your symptoms, and run a blood test. They may also take an X-ray or ultrasound to get a proper image of the suspected veins. If vasculitis is indicated, a biopsy will be necessary to confirm.

A treatment plan will be tailored to your individual circumstances. The severity of your condition, as well as the location of the impacted arteries, can play a role in the course of action your doctor chooses to follow. They may offer a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation. There are also immunosuppressive drugs that could be administered for the underlying causes, such as an autoimmune disease.

Potential complications of untreated inflammation on heart health

If inflammation remains untreated for an extended time, it can have damaging consequences for the heart. You may experience fainting spells, abnormal heart rhythms, lingering infections, and lung problems. Eventually, you may develop a blood clot or fluid around the heart. Heart failure is a serious concern and it may result in a stroke or heart attack.

Symptoms of inflammation affecting heart health

You may notice some minor or major symptoms indicating that inflammation is affecting your heart and has caused inflammatory cardiomyopathy or myocarditis, including:

• Chronic fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• Flu-like symptoms
• Frequent headaches
• Swelling in the arms or legs
• Swollen neck veins
• Light-headedness
• Fainting
• Chest pain

Once you observe any of these, take your concerns to your doctor. If you have chest pain, in particular, go to the ER rather than scheduling an appointment with your primary care physician.

What can be done to reduce inflammation and protect heart health?

To protect overall heart health and reduce inflammation in the blood vessels, you need to make healthy lifestyle changes. Consume a diet intended to reduce inflammation. Get plenty of exercise. Maintain a healthy weight. Avoid unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol. Eliminate stress. Rest when you require it. By implementing these healthy habits, you should be able to reduce the inflammation within your body and keep your heart health intact.

Specific dietary recommendations to reduce inflammation and support heart health

Consuming a heart-healthy diet is one of the best ways to reduce inflammation that’s impacting your cardiovascular system. Add more anti-inflammatory foods and foods with antioxidant power to your daily menu. Include things such as leafy greens, seeds, nuts, berries, edamame, olive oil, garlic, cold-water fish, flaxseeds, and dark chocolate.

You’ll also want to avoid the foods that cause inflammation. These include processed meat and snacks, red meat, fried foods, saturated fat, and refined carbohydrates.

Can regular exercise reduce inflammation and improve heart health?

Regular exercise encourages the blood vessels to expand. If they’re restricted because of inflammation, then physical activity can help them open up more and allow better blood flow and oxygen circulation. Exercise also strengthens the heart muscle overall, and works to lower blood pressure and cholesterol while decreasing the risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Lifting weights won’t cut it, though you should be adding strength training and flexibility exercises into the mix. You most need to focus on aerobic exercise that gets your heart pumping and blood and oxygen flowing. Walking, jogging, cycling, and swimming are great options for beginners. If you have joint pain, which can also be a result of inflammation, swimming is the wisest choice because it takes some of the pressure off your joints. You can head to a local pool or lake, or find an aquatic center near you with an indoor option. Make sure to stretch and warm up for a few minutes before beginning your exercise routine. It’s recommended that you achieve 30 minutes of exercise per day, five days per week, for adequate results.

Get chiropractic care to help your heart

Chiropractic care may offer a wealth of health benefits, including reducing inflammation and improving heart health. Regular adjustments can help relieve stress, alleviate pain, and lower blood pressure, which helps ease the strain on your cardiovascular system and reduce inflammation.

By realigning the spine, chiropractic care enhances communication between the nervous system and the rest of the body, enabling the body to heal more effectively and manage inflammation naturally. This can prevent chronic inflammation from negatively impacting your heart and overall well-being.

Incorporating chiropractic care into a lifestyle that includes healthy habits like exercise and balanced nutrition promotes long-term heart health. Chiropractors at The Joint are committed to supporting your journey toward better health, starting with routine care for a well-aligned spine.

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