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Just like the acute stress response, acute inflammation is an essential part of the body’s alarm system, a vital response to injury or infection that helps protect us from harm. Both of these ancient alarm systems have kept all living beings on this planet alive for millions of years.

“Chronic inflammation … is silent and can wreak havoc on the body over time.”

However, while acute inflammation is essential for healing in the short term, it is becoming increasingly clear that its persistent presence in the body can lead to serious chronic health problems. Chronic inflammation, as often discussed in this blog, unlike the acute kind we experience with a cut or infection, is silent and can wreak havoc on the body over time. It’s increasingly recognized as a major driver of the chronic non-contagious disease epidemic, from heart disease to Alzheimer’s, from colon cancer to metabolic syndrome and from Parkinson’s to coronary vascular disease.

Acute inflammation is part of the body’s natural defense mechanism. When the immune system detects a threat—whether it’s a virus, bacteria, or physical injury—it activates a coordinated inflammatory response. This response includes the release of hormones and proteins that increase blood flow to the area and encourage healing. In the case of acute inflammation, symptoms are often visible: redness, swelling, and pain at the site of an infection or injury. These are signs that the body is fighting to repair itself.

“Unlike acute inflammation, chronic inflammation is generally silent and doesn’t cause immediate symptoms…”

In contrast, chronic inflammation occurs when this response continues for a long time, even when there’s no clear threat. It can result from various factors, such as ongoing stress (“allostatic load”), an unhealthy diet, obesity, smoking, or autoimmune conditions where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body. Unlike acute inflammation, chronic inflammation is generally silent and doesn’t cause immediate symptoms, which is why it’s sometimes referred to as a “silent” condition. This silent low-grade immune activation is analogous to high blood pressure, elevated blood glucose or deranged metabolic systems, all of which can have devastating long-term effects.

“Chronic inflammation can damage tissues and organs over time, leading to a variety of health problems…”

Chronic inflammation can damage tissues and organs over time, leading to a variety of health problems. Chronic inflammation has also been implicated in the shortening of the health span, for example, by reducing the process of healthy aging. One of the most important things to understand is that inflammation is not just a byproduct of disease—it can be a cause of it. For instance, while it’s well-known that high levels of low density cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease, chronic inflammation has also been identified as a key factor in cardiovascular health.

In the 1990s, scientists found out that people with elevated levels of inflammation markers in their blood were more likely to suffer heart attacks and strokes, even if their cholesterol levels were normal. Clinical studies demonstrated the surprising beneficial effects on ischemic heart disease and colon cancer of anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like naproxen or ibuprofen, even though the reason for their effectiveness at the time was not known.

“Inflammation interferes with the body’s ability to repair and regenerate cells, contributing to the aging process…”

The damage from chronic inflammation isn’t limited to the heart. It has also been linked to conditions like diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, liver disease and cancer. Inflammation interferes with the body’s ability to repair and regenerate cells, contributing to the aging process, neurodegeneration and the development of age-related diseases.

“…when fat tissue is exposed to immune mediators originating from the gut, fat cells start producing inflammatory molecules themselves … which can spread throughout the body…”

Chronic inflammation can result from various factors, in particular those related to lifestyle choices. For example, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and a diet high in sugar and ultra processed foods have all been implicated in the development of chronic systemic inflammation. As discussed in my book, The Mind Gut Immune Connection, the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in engaging the gut-based immune system, often resulting in local immune activation in the gut, and dissemination of inflammatory cells to other organs, which then become major drivers of inflammation, a situation referred to as “metabolic endotoxemia”. For example, when fat tissue is exposed to immune mediators originating from the gut, fat cells start producing inflammatory molecules themselves, so called cytokines which can spread throughout the body. This may explain why people who are overweight or obese are at a greater risk for many inflammatory diseases.

“…early studies have demonstrated that drugs like GLP-1 receptor agonists have shown promise in lowering inflammation and reducing the risk of heart and kidney disease…”

With the rising recognition of chronic inflammation’s role in disease, lifestyle modifications, including dietary changes have been shown to be effective in treating many elements of our chronic non-transmissible disease epidemic. More recently, a class of anti-obesity drugs are being explored to target and reduce chronic inflammation. For example, early studies have demonstrated that drugs like GLP-1 receptor agonists—originally developed for managing diabetes but used extensively for weight reduction—have shown promise in lowering inflammation and reducing the risk of heart and kidney disease. Some patients taking these medications have reported unexpected improvements in symptoms unrelated to their initial indications for weight loss. For instance, people with rheumatoid arthritis have seen their inflammation-related pain and swelling subside while taking these drugs. Even though current evidence from such studies is not conclusive, researchers believe that reducing inflammation may help in preventing or slowing down other conditions, including cognitive decline and aging.

“Despite the clear links between inflammation and disease, there are no widespread public health recommendations for regularly testing inflammation levels in otherwise healthy people…”

Despite the clear links between inflammation and disease, there are no widespread public health recommendations for regularly testing inflammation levels in otherwise healthy people, even though such tests are available and are being promoted by functional medicine providers. Research has shown that a one-time measurement of certain inflammatory markers in women can predict their likelihood of suffering from heart disease, stroke, or even death over the coming decades. There is no question in my mind that monitoring inflammation will become a valuable tool in preventing future health problems, just as we currently do with monitoring of blood lipids, hemoglobin A1c and blood pressure.

There are ways to reduce chronic inflammation through lifestyle changes. As described in detail in my book, The Mind Gut Immune Connection and in this blog, regular physical activity, a healthy diet with minimal sugar and non-nutritive sweeteners and rich in fruits and vegetables, and managing stress can all help lower chronic systemic inflammation. Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption also plays a key role. Additionally, some dietary supplements such as turmeric, ginger, polyphenols and prebiotic fiber can help keep inflammation in check.

The immune system is a crucial part of the body’s defense mechanism, and suppressing its normal function would leave us vulnerable to infections. For example, patients with autoimmune diseases, who take drugs to suppress their immune systems, are more likely to suffer from infections as a result. The challenge, therefore, is finding a balance: managing chronic inflammation without wiping out the body’s ability to defend itself.

As research continues, our understanding of inflammation’s role in disease will likely deepen, leading to new treatments and strategies to increase our health span and reducing the burden of chronic disease. But for now, chronic inflammation remains a hidden danger—which we need to detect early, and control with well-established lifestyle changes, before chronic diseases manifest themselves, requiring medical intervention.