{"id":989,"date":"2024-03-16T17:48:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-16T17:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/conneqtdev.wpengine.com\/?p=989"},"modified":"2026-02-24T18:30:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T18:30:46","slug":"why-chronic-inflammation-may-be-your-hearts-worst-enemy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/conneqthealth.com\/insights\/why-chronic-inflammation-may-be-your-hearts-worst-enemy\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Chronic Inflammation May Be Your Heart&#8217;s Worst Enemy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In honor of Heart Health Awareness Month, we are spotlighting chronic inflammation, an invisible immune response that can quietly\u2014yet systematically\u2014wreak havoc on cardiovascular health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people are familiar with the signs of acute inflammation: You burn your hand, and your immune system sends in an army of inflammatory cells and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/managing-cancer\/treatment-types\/immunotherapy\/cytokines.html#:~:text=Cytokines%20are%20small%20proteins%20that,body's%20immune%20and%20inflammation%20responses.\">cytokines<\/a> to protect and heal the wound, resulting in redness and swelling. This kind of inflammation is usually easy to spot and very adaptive. It helps us heal and protect our bodies from outside aggressors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But inflammation isn\u2019t always visible\u2014or beneficial for our health. In fact, chronic low grade inflammation is one of the most insidious drivers of poor health. \u201cAlthough chronic inflammation progresses slowly, it is the cause of most chronic diseases and presents a major threat to the health and longevity of individuals,\u201d National Institute of Health researcher Roma Pahwa writes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK493173\/\">in a recent report<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-chronic-inflammation\">What Is Chronic Inflammation? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Researchers believe chronic inflammation is a long-term immune response to low-grade irritants, like cigarette smoke toxins or excess fat cells. Essentially, your immune system short-circuits and keeps firing inflammatory cells and cytokines even when there is no outside threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When a person suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, for example, their immune system attacks joint tissues, creating an inflammatory response that comes and goes, causing serious damage over time. Other signs of chronic inflammation include: abdominal pain, chest pain, fatigue, fever, mouth sores, and rashes (i.e. eczema).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Left unchecked, chronic inflammation can damage healthy cells, tissues and organs and may cause internal tissue death and damage to cell DNA, leading to life-threatening illnesses such as cancer or Type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, 50% of all global deaths can be attributed to inflammation-related diseases such as ischemic heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and autoimmune and neurodegenerative conditions, according to a 2018 systematic review in the <em>Lancet<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-causes-chronic-inflammation\">What Causes Chronic Inflammation? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are an infinite number of triggers for chronic inflammation but a few of the more common ones include: autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, where your body attacks its own healthy tissue; untreated acute inflammation from an infection or an injury; exposure to toxins like pollution, industrial chemicals, mold or lead; chronic stress; obesity (excess weight in the abdominal area is particularly dangerous);  low sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone); and drinking in excess and smoking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, while moderate exercise can reduce inflammation, studies show exercising at your maximum capacity too frequently (i.e. running marathons regularly) can have the opposite effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cInflammation damages the blood vessel lining, and repairing that damage can lead to narrowing (or further narrowing) over time,\u201d Director of Hypertension at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Ray Townsend, M.D., says, noting that inflammation also <a href=\"https:\/\/conneqthealth.com\/insights\/what-is-arterial-stiffness\/\">stiffens arteries<\/a>, increasing blood pressure over time. Inflammation can also accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Within the arteries, inflammation causes fatty cholesterol rich plaque to build up. Your body sees the plaque as a threat, so it tries to wall off the plaque. But if the wall breaks down, the plaque can break free, forming a clot that blocks blood flow, which can cause a heart attack or stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-reduce-inflammation\">How to Reduce Inflammation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Studies show lifestyle changes can reduce chronic inflammation\u2014and possibly even reverse \u2014 its progression. Here are eight scientifically proven ways to do it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-lose-weight\">1. Lose Weight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Adipose tissue (commonly known as body fat) is considered one of the largest endocrine organs in the body. In other words, it is not simply inert tissue used for energy storage, it plays a dynamic role in dozens of physiological and pathological processes in the body, releasing hormones and inflammatory proteins and factors. Some reports have shown a direct correlation between body mass index (BMI) and the quantity of pro-inflammatory cytokines secreted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-adopt-a-mediterranean-diet\">2. Adopt a Mediterranean Diet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The typical American diet of meat, cheese and highly refined, processed foods destroys your gut and triggers inflammation throughout the body, according to longevity expert Dan Buettner, author of <em>The Blue Zones Challenge<\/em>. He recommends sticking to a <a href=\"https:\/\/conneqthealth.com\/insights\/patient-primer-17-vascular-superfoods\/\">plant-based, low-sugar, anti-inflammatory diet<\/a> focused on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, wild fish and plants like soybeans and flax seeds that contain omega-3 fatty acids. A Mediterranean diet is also rich in anti-inflammatory micronutrients like magnesium, vitamin E and selenium that helps neutralize free radicals, unstable oxygen molecules that trigger inflammation. This fiber-rich diet also promotes a healthy gut, which helps regulate the immune system by lowering levels of inflammatory cells and cytokines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-get-moving\">3. Get Moving!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Physical activity, especially <a href=\"https:\/\/conneqthealth.com\/insights\/the-best-exercises-to-reduce-hypertension\/\">high intensity interval training<\/a> (HIIT), helps reduce dangerous belly fat, a key source of chronic inflammation. In fact, \u201cexercise not only reduces abdominal fat but also induces an anti-inflammatory environment by modifying the release of inflammatory cells and factors in the bloodstream,\u201d Mass General cardiologist and Harvard Medical School Instructor Michael Ocborne, M.D. says. \u201cExercise may also contribute to beneficial modifications in stress-associated brain regions that contribute to an unhealthy stress response.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-invest-in-a-state-of-the-art-home-blood-pressure-monitor\">4. Invest in a State of the Art Home Blood Pressure Monitor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With the imminent release of the CONNEQT Pulse, the first at home device capable of measuring both <a href=\"https:\/\/conneqthealth.com\/insights\/what-is-augmentation-index\/\">central and brachial blood pressure<\/a>, along with several other digital vascular biomarkers, consumers can be alerted to early warning signs of invisible inflammatory damage. Elevated readings for <a href=\"https:\/\/conneqthealth.com\/insights\/understanding-vascular-biomarkers-what-is-pulse-pressure\/\">Pulse pressure<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/conneqthealth.com\/insights\/what-is-augmentation-index\/\">Augmentation Index<\/a> suggest arterial stiffness, an early warning sign of subclinical cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-stop-smoking\">5. Stop Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Nicotine activates a type of white blood cell called neutrophils, which release molecules that increase inflammation, according to a 2016 report <em>Journal of Leukocyte Biology<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-cut-down-or-eliminate-alcohol\">6. Cut Down or Eliminate Alcohol<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Like cigarette smoke, alcohol is a toxin that can trigger inflammation throughout the body. Alcohol can also disrupt the balance of good bacteria in your gut. This overgrowth increases bacterial waste products including endotoxins, chemicals that promote inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-consider-hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt\">7. Consider Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen can suppress the production of several pro-inflammatory markers. Studies show maintaining optimal sex hormone levels reduces the risk of several inflammatory diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-reduce-stress-and-improve-your-sleep-habits\">8. Reduce Stress and Improve Your Sleep Habits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/conneqthealth.com\/insights\/the-link-between-stress-and-vascular-health\/\">Stress<\/a> releases inflammatory substances into the bloodstream and can make it difficult to get a good night\u2019s sleep. This becomes a vicious cycle because chronic waking causes your body to release cortisol, which further increases inflammation while your body is supposed to be focused on repairing tissues during deep <a href=\"https:\/\/conneqthealth.com\/insights\/the-conneqtion\/\">sleep<\/a> phases of the sleep cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cardiex.com\/resources\/clinical-research-repository\/\">Sources<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In honor of Heart Health Awareness Month, we are spotlighting chronic inflammation, an invisible immune response that can quietly\u2014yet systematically\u2014wreak havoc on cardiovascular health. Most people<span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1406,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[128,57],"tags":[102,103,101,104],"class_list":["post-989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feed","category-vascular-health","tag-chronic-inflammation","tag-digital-vascular-biomarkers","tag-heart-health-awareness-month","tag-home-blood-pressure-monitoring"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why Chronic Inflammation May Be Your Heart&#039;s Worst Enemy - CONNEQT Health Insights<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Low-grade inflammation raises your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease. Learn how to protect your cardiovascular health.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/conneqthealth.com\/insights\/why-chronic-inflammation-may-be-your-hearts-worst-enemy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why Chronic Inflammation May Be Your Heart&#039;s Worst Enemy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Low-grade inflammation raises your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease. Learn how to protect your cardiovascular health.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/conneqthealth.com\/insights\/why-chronic-inflammation-may-be-your-hearts-worst-enemy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CONNEQT Health Insights\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/conneqthealth\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-03-16T17:48:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-24T18:30:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/conneqthealth.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/04\/aziz-acharki-unsplash.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Eric Hunter, Director of Content CONNEQT Health\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@conneqthealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@conneqthealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Eric Hunter, Director of Content CONNEQT Health\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/conneqthealth.com\\\/insights\\\/why-chronic-inflammation-may-be-your-hearts-worst-enemy\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/conneqthealth.com\\\/insights\\\/why-chronic-inflammation-may-be-your-hearts-worst-enemy\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Eric Hunter, Director of Content CONNEQT Health\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/conneqthealth.com\\\/insights\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/4d147beef7fa8a02e4ce8a8542513304\"},\"headline\":\"Why Chronic Inflammation May Be Your Heart&#8217;s Worst Enemy\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-03-16T17:48:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T18:30:46+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/conneqthealth.com\\\/insights\\\/why-chronic-inflammation-may-be-your-hearts-worst-enemy\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1071,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/conneqthealth.com\\\/insights\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/conneqthealth.com\\\/insights\\\/why-chronic-inflammation-may-be-your-hearts-worst-enemy\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/conneqthealth.com\\\/insights\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/aziz-acharki-unsplash.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Chronic Inflammation\",\"Digital Vascular Biomarkers\",\"Heart Health Awareness Month\",\"Home Blood Pressure Monitoring\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Feed\",\"Vascular Health\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"copyrightYear\":\"2024\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/conneqthealth.com\\\/insights\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/conneqthealth.com\\\/insights\\\/why-chronic-inflammation-may-be-your-hearts-worst-enemy\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/conneqthealth.com\\\/insights\\\/why-chronic-inflammation-may-be-your-hearts-worst-enemy\\\/\",\"name\":\"Why Chronic Inflammation May Be Your Heart's Worst Enemy - CONNEQT Health Insights\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/conneqthealth.com\\\/insights\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/conneqthealth.com\\\/insights\\\/why-chronic-inflammation-may-be-your-hearts-worst-enemy\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/conneqthealth.com\\\/insights\\\/why-chronic-inflammation-may-be-your-hearts-worst-enemy\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/conneqthealth.com\\\/insights\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/aziz-acharki-unsplash.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-03-16T17:48:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T18:30:46+00:00\",\"description\":\"Low-grade inflammation raises your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease. 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