Chronic inflammation: Why it’s harmful, and how to prevent it

Daily Living ‘It just kind of smolders in the background’ Hannah Six Contributing Writer Updated Aug. 11, 2023 Published Feb. 10, 2022 When you think of inflammation, do you picture the swelling and redness that accompany an injury or infection? If so, you’d be right. But there’s another, more insidious kind of inflammation — one that’s harder to notice and harmful to your health. You’ve almost certainly heard the phrase: chronic inflammation. But many of us have a hazy understanding of what it means. Simply put, this ongoing immune-system reaction can be a symptom of autoimmune and other serious illnesses. But it also plays a role in the disease process of many life-threatening conditions. In fact, more than 50% of all deaths worldwide are attributed to chronic inflammatory diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke and diabetes. “Inflammation that’s not specifically from an infection or injury often doesn’t manifest into a lot of clear symptoms,” said Dr. Ke...