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Sometimes acute inflammation can transition into low-grade systemic chronic inflammation, or SCI—a state of constant inflammation. SCI ups the risk for most major diseases. Here's how it happens and what you can do about it.
Remember the last time you got bitten by a bug, had a cold, or twisted your ankle? Things get swollen, red, and start to hurt. (Ouch!) This acute inflammation is your body’s immediate, natural immune response in action. It helps protect and heal you. (Aren’t our bodies freaking amazing?!)
When your body senses a threat—say, an infection, toxin, or injury— it fights back and repairs itself as quickly as possible. It sends out immune cells, blood vessels dilate, and blood flow increases.
Normally, this immune response lasts only up to a few days, depending on the injury. But sometimes acute inflammation can transition into low-grade systemic chronic inflammation, or SCI—a state of constant inflammation. SCI ups the risk for most major diseases and can be seen in people with cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. It’s a leading cause of disability and is attributed to 50% of all deaths. In other words: Do. Not. Want.
So let’s learn exactly how it happens and what to do about it.
Inflammation can be widespread and complex, and there are still many unknowns. Science has shown that SCI can compromise your immune system and make you more susceptible to illness. It may lead to significant alterations in tissues, organs, and normal cell function. And it’s strongly linked to the onset—or development of—metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, all common comorbidities associated with obesity.
Excess weight and inflammation have a tight-knit relationship. They create a cycle and feed off of each other—typically, when one goes up, so does the other. How so? It seems that excess fat triggers an immune-inflammatory response in the body because it’s treated as a type of threat. Fat stores send out inflammatory signals, specifically tumor necrosis factor α and the immune protein interleukin 6 (IL-6). This results in a reduction of adiponectin—a hormone known for its effect on insulin sensitivity and anti-inflammation. Low levels have been linked to type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity.
And that’s not all. To store excess fat, individual fat cells (adipocytes) get bigger, which may reduce blood supply. Result: Since blood carries oxygen, low blood flow also means reduced oxygen levels—which may cause a domino effect and trigger an inflammatory response.
Plus, when fatty acids accumulate, it can trigger inflammation, causing interleukin 6 (IL-6) to be released. High levels of this protein prompt your liver to make C-reactive protein (CRP). And that’s a big deal because high amounts of CRP are associated with more health risks—think heart attacks, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and cancer. In addition, current research shows that chronically elevated CRP levels are associated with increased body weight. Can you visualize the cycle in action? Excess weight leads to inflammation; inflammation leads to weight gain. (Lather, rinse, repeat.)
Follow these guidelines to help prevent and reduce chronic inflammation.
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