Why Should You Worry About Inflammation?
By Sara Butler
Chronic inflammation may be at the root of a lot of ailments, including chronic illnesses. Still, many people don't understand why chronic inflammation is so concerning. After all, inflammation when you injure yourself is your body's way to offer protection and healing -- so inflammation isn't necessarily a bad thing, right? Wrong.
Here are a few reasons everyone should be concerned about inflammation to help you stay in control of your own health and continued wellness.
Cardiovascular Disease
Issues with the cardiovascular system such as coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes are the number one killer in the United States. Experts believe that if you suffer from chronic inflammation, then it may increase your chances of developing cardiovascular disease.
Studies have shown that there is a relationship between inflammation markers and cardiovascular disease, though they're still trying to figure exactly why this is true. It is thought that the plaque that builds on artery walls that can lead to strokes and heart attacks is seen by the body as a foreign substance that it has to attack via inflammation. This causes clogging of the blood vessels or the formation of blood clots that can lead to serious cardiovascular events and even death.
Cancer Risk
Chronic inflammation can, over time, damage the DNA in your cells and lead to cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, those with diseases involving chronic inflammation of the bowels, such as Crohn's disease, are also at an increased risk of colon cancer. There's also been a link found between inflammation and the ability of cancer to spread.
Arthritis
Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis cause the healthy cells in the body to be attacked by the immune system, leading to painful symptoms. It is believed that systemic inflammation may contribute to the development and progression of some forms of arthritis.
The Arthritis Foundation says that those who eat anti-inflammatory diets with an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables have some success in reducing system inflammation and improving their symptoms.
Dementia
Inflammation in the long term can also impact the brain. In fact, it's believed that chronic inflammation may be linked to dementia by promoting aging in the brain that degrades both cognitive and neural functions.
Chronic inflammation is serious. Talk to the chiropractors at The Joint to understand how you can reduce or eliminate it.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Buford, Ga.