CHRONIC INFLAMMATION? WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOUR HEALTH. PART 2

Can Reducing Inflammation Protect You From Getting Sick?

Much is still unknown, but physicians and researchers do believe it’s preventable and reversible. 

“People who are less inflamed over a long period of time have far less incidence of illness,” says Dr. Dillard.

You can assess your own situation with a quick blood test that measures a liver chemical, C-reactive protein (CRP), which rises in response to inflammation.

This test, available for as little as $35, can help assess your risk of heart attack, especially if you’re younger than 60 and have a family history of heart disease.

Your doctor will explain your results, but CRP levels between 1 and 3 milligrams per liter of blood signal chronic, low-grade inflammation with an intermediate risk of heart disease. Levels above 3 milligrams indicate a high risk.

Related: What to Eat To Stay Ahead Of Inflammation

If your CRP level is above normal, your doctor might suggest that you start taking statins, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), says Dr. Libby. 

CHRONIC INFLAMMATION? WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOUR HEALTH. PART 1

Scan the obits and you’ll see the usual suspects listed as causes of death—heart disease, cancer, stroke, and complications from diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. 

What you won’t read about is chronic inflammation, a deep-body immune response that medical researchers are beginning to recognize as the underlying reason we develop these deadly conditions.

“Most major diseases seem to have a chronic inflammatory component,” says integrative medicine expert James Dillard, M.D.

“Evidence shows that arthritis, certain allergies, and asthma are increasing at alarming rates,” says Ski Chilton, Ph.D., a professor of physiology and pharmacology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and the author of Inflammation Nation. 

The dramatic upswing in these milder conditions suggests that chronic inflammation is also on the rise and that it will increasingly fuel serious diseases as well.

While the medical establishment is still trying to better understand chronic inflammation, a growing body of research is casting light on the poorly understood process and pointing us toward ways to fight it.

What the Heck Is Inflammation?

Chances are you’re already familiar with acute inflammation. This is the redness, heat, and swelling of a gum infection or a hammer-meets-thumb injury. 

These reactions are triggered by the flood of white blood cells summoned by your body to surround and protect the wound. 

Acute inflammation also occurs internally when you get an infection, such as pneumonia. In that event, those same white blood cells take aim at the bacteria in your tissues and bloodstream.

In both cases, the heat and swelling of acute inflammation are all part of your body’s battle against the invaders that cause infection—they help speed the healing process.

Related: 6 Surprising Inflammation Causes 

THE 5 BEST FOODS TO FIGHT HEART DISEASE

                   
                                


Check out these foods to help keep your heart healthy. 
Let us know what you think? 

IS COCONUT OIL UNHEALTHY?

Yes, coconut oil lovers, it’s true—the American Heart Association released an advisory report on the role of dietary fats in heart disease in which they called out coconut oil as particularly dangerous due to its high saturated fat content. 

The report's authors recommended avoiding the oil altogether: “Because coconut oil increases LDL cholesterol, a cause of cardiovascular disease, and has no known offsetting favorable effects, we advise against the use of coconut oil.” 

But if you’re freaking out over that, and all the subsequent click-baity headlines—“Coconut Oil Isn’t Healthy. It’s Never Been Healthy” or “So Coconut Oil Is Actually Really, Really Bad For You”—take a deep breath and refrain from tossing your jar of organic cold-pressed coconut oil in the trash just yet. 

HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS THAT MAY HELP HEART DISEASE

1.     Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

2.   Atherosclerosis is related to heart disease and causes plaque to build up in your arteries, blocking the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart and other organs.

3.   Many herbs and supplements can help prevent heart disease and reduce symptoms by lowering blood pressure, improving breathing, and clearing arteries.

Cardiovascular disease, also known as heart disease, or coronary artery disease (CAD), is the number one killer in the United States. Diet and lifestyle play an important role in preventing and reversing heart disease, and certain herbs and supplements can help lower your risk for heart disease and treat heart conditions you've already been diagnosed with.

11 Supplements That Could Help You Live Longer.

Stay stronger, longer

The recipe for awesome aging? Healthy whole foods and enough exercise, of course, but a few strategically selected supplements can help keep that youthful pep in your step too, says Andrew Weil, MD, director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. Here are his recommendations for six age-related maladies. Just be sure to get the green light from your doctor before adding anything new to your current supplement lineup. 

*Dosage may vary depending on specific needs or supplement brand, so consult your doctor.