Causes of silent inflammation in the body

Chronic inflammation runs almost unnoticed in the body, but increases your risk of cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s dementia. These are the ten most common causes of silent inflammation.

Our body needs acute inflammatory reactions in order to heal injuries, remove toxins or overcome infections. Therefore, they are biologically meaningful processes and in most cases even desirable. Chronic or silent inflammation , on the other hand, can put a strain on our immune system over the long term and promote the development of cardiovascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis or heart attacks and Alzheimer’s dementia. In addition to certain diseases and pathogens, an unhealthy lifestyle is also responsible for the occurrence of chronic inflammation.

10 common causes of silent inflammation in the body

1. Autoimmune diseases

In autoimmune diseases, the immune system goes haywire and attacks the body’s own cells, misinterpreting them as hostile or foreign. The most common autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis , multiple sclerosis and the chronic inflammatory bowel diseases Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These diseases are largely genetic and often progress in phases in stronger or weaker flare-ups. Chronic inflammation in the body can be detected by blood tests using various inflammatory markers and usually requires lifelong treatment.

2. Infections

Pathogens can also cause chronic inflammation. For example, certain bacteria can trigger diseases such as periodontitis or gallbladder infections. If left untreated, such inflammatory infections can keep the body in a chronic state of inflammation. Other microorganisms such as viruses , fungi or parasites can permanently burden the immune system and cause unwanted inflammatory reactions.

3. Excess belly fat

One of the reasons why obesity is so unhealthy is that excess abdominal fat produces pro-inflammatory hormones . The so-called visceral fat is hormonally extremely active and can therefore trigger or fuel inflammation throughout the body. It also grows around the abdominal organs, which is why it primarily affects the liver, intestines or pancreas. Subcutaneous fatty tissue on the legs or arms is therefore not as dangerous as inflammatory abdominal fat. Here you can find out from which abdominal circumference it becomes dangerous >>

4. Pro-inflammatory foods

Some foods in our everyday modern diet can fuel inflammation. These include, in particular, refined cereals, eg white flour or cornflakes, and foods containing sugar such as sweets, pastries or convenience products. Certain animal fatty acids from pork or sausage products, as well as plant-based omega-6 fatty acids found in sunflower oil, also fuel chronic inflammatory processes in the body. You can find out here >> which foods have an anti-inflammatory effect

5. Cigarettes

Tobacco smoke contains toxic substances, some of which are carcinogenic. Most people know that smoking promotes the development of lung cancer. But did you also know that cigarettes form pro-inflammatory antibodies in the body of smokers and can thus promote diseases such as rheumatism? According to Rheumaliga Schweiz , regular tobacco consumption can not only increase the risk of rheumatism, but also worsen the joint pain that occurs and the course of the disease. Smoking can also encourage unwanted bacteria to settle in your mouth, which increases your risk of periodontitis – the inflammation of the gums.

6. Alcohol consumption

The traditional Mediterranean diet (“Mediterranean diet”) shows that very small amounts of alcohol – no more than a small glass of wine a day – can have a slight anti-inflammatory effect. However, any consumption above this level will result in the ethanol being broken down into acetaldehyde , causing  oxidative stress  . So finding the right amount is a very fine line to walk – and since even small amounts of alcohol damage your brain , from a health standpoint, you shouldn’t drink too much or drink too much.

7. Lack of exercise

While modern medicine can use the latest medicines and surgical techniques to fight diseases and let us live longer, the comfortable lifestyle in wealthy countries also has health disadvantages: physical tasks are taken over by machines such as cars, so that large parts of the population do not get a minimum of exercise achieve more. In the USA, for example, almost 50 percent of people do not reach the WHO-recommended lower limit of 150 minutes of physical activity per week . Unfortunately, lack of exercise encourages silent inflammation because only active muscles release anti-inflammatory hormones and proteins into the bloodstream. If there is no activity, inflammatory markers such as cytokines or C-reactive protein accumulate and trigger inflammation.

8. Constant stress

The fact that body and soul influence each other is made clear by the example of chronic stress. While short-term stress makes us more active and able to cope with challenges, long-term psychological stress makes us ill. And physically: In stressful situations or phases of life, the messenger substance interleukin-6 (IL-6), which has a pro-inflammatory effect, is increasingly released. However, what is necessary in the case of diseases to kill pathogens can make us ill in the long run. For example, IL-6 is associated with diseases such as metabolic syndrome, rheumatism or pancreatitis.

9. Lack of sleep

Did you get between seven and nine hours of quality sleep last night? If not, it could be that pro-inflammatory genes have already been turned on in your body. Because, as a Swedish research team found out, even a night’s sleep can cause your inflammation levels and blood sugar levels to rise. Likewise, more fat is stored, which can contribute to the development of obesity. It is all the more important to maintain good sleep hygiene and to maintain a sleep rhythm that is as even as possible.

10. Particulate matter from exhaust gases

Not only the smoke from cigarettes, but also the fine dust from traffic causes problems for our body. The fine carbon particles that are produced both when fuel is burned and when tires wear out damage our lung tissue. Researchers at the University of Leicester found out in a study that the fine dust that we breathe promotes the growth of pathogenic bacteria. On the other hand, it can directly trigger inflammation, which in turn promotes the development of lung diseases.

Chronic inflammation increases risk of disease

According to studies,  chronic inflammation, some of which goes unnoticed in the body, can cause a large number of diseases or at least promote their development:

  • cardiovascular diseases
  • Krebs
  • Mellitus diabetes
  • kidney diseases
  • fatty liver
  • autoimmune diseases
  • Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s

Book tips for an anti-inflammatory diet

So that you can do something yourself against inflammatory processes in your body, we can only warmly recommend these 3 cookbooks and guides :

  • In ” Secret Inflammations – The Cookbook ” by Silvia Bürkle you will find delicious recipes that will help you to relieve and prevent silent inflammation.
  • With the “anti-inflammatory nutrition”  from Medical Academy, you can quickly get rid of chronic inflammation and permanently strengthen your immune system. The included 14-day plan takes you by the hand every day and makes the change in diet easier.
  • With  “Anti-inflammatory nutrition made easy”  Julia Bierenfeld provides a comprehensive guide with numerous recipes. She explains where inflammation comes from, what it’s good for, and how to manage excessive inflammation with your lifestyle. With delicious recipes for every time of the day.

Crystal Waston MD

Crystal Waston has a degree in Cross Media Production and Publishing. At vital.de she gives everyday tips and deals with topics related to women's health, sport, and nutrition.

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