In the past decade, the importance of reducing inflammation in the body has skyrocketed, as chronic inflammation has been linked to everything from cancer to asthma.
Seven years ago, Time magazine stunned the world with a cover story about inflammation. According to the article, inflammation is the body’s ancient first line of defense on the immunological front. Inflammation fights off the microbes and bacteria that would otherwise be deadly. It only becomes problematic when the body’s immunological response of inflammation doesn’t turn off when the battle is over. Then it becomes chronic.
Chronic inflammation means that the body’s response to exterior attack is turned inward. The results of this appear to be the underlying cause of several diseases, from Alzheimer’s to colon cancer to suffering a heart attack.
According to Time magazine, chronic inflammation can be connected to heart attacks. It is believed that the process of inflammation loosens plaque in arteries, making them rupture and sending the plaque straight through the bloodstream and directly to the heart. It damages nerves cells in the brain and may lead to Alzheimer’s as a result. The inflammation might also spawn cells that turn into cancer. Chronic inflammation is connected to rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis.
Treatment for these diseases has been shown to help against these diseases and other autoimmune disorders, according to Time. However, there are also some scary side effects, such as increasing the likelihood of developing tuberculosis.
There also appears to be some connection between chronic inflammation and allergies and asthma. This discovery excited scientists and led them to the possibility of discovering one treatment for a host of diseases – reducing the inflammation. It is believed that people who smoke or eat high-fat diets are more susceptible to the complications from chronic inflammation.
As part of the research, it was discovered that people taking medication for arthritis were less likely to develop colon cancer. More studies are taking place every day since the 2004 Time article was published. Reducing inflammation is one reason older people are advised to take a baby aspirin each day to prevent heart attacks and strokes – aspirin is a known anti-inflammatory drug.
Scientists have also made a connection between chronic inflammation and diabetes. The theory is that for people with diabetes reducing inflammation at key points can actually reverse some of the side effects of the disease. The medical field is looking at whether low-dose aspirin and fish oil capsules will reduce chronic inflammation and therefore the risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s. While research into medical ways to reduce inflammation there are still good old-fashioned ways to do so:
1. Aspirin
2. Statins
3. Beta blockers and ACE inhibitors
4. Losing Weight. Losing weight decreases fat cells which lead to plaque buildup in the blood vessels
5. Exercise. At least 30 minutes of exercise a day
6. Flossing your teeth reduces the incidence of gum disease (chronic inflammation)
7. Avoiding too much saturated fat in your diet. Eating healthy foods such as fish and fruits and vegetables
And of course, I would add, drinking Nopalea Juice – a very easy, natural way to reduce inflammation in the body.