1 day Ago By Liz Hoggard
From cancer to Alzheimer’s, it’s the silent killer driving almost every disease – here’s how to spot and tackle chronic inflammation. Imagine a glowing couple in their 20s, working and partying hard, getting precious little sleep, says gastroenterologist Shilpa Ravella. Then fast-forward 30 years and the couple may have serious health issues such as Type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
“Late nights, drinking and stress, all these things trigger low-level inflammation which can damage our tissues and then one day it turns into heart disease or cancer,” adds Ravella. “Yes, younger bodies tend to process things more favourably. But the processed food has got worse, and young onset colon cancer is skyrocketing.
” Being slim isn’t a protection, adds Ravella. “You can be at the gym lifting weights, have big muscles and a flat tummy, but still be highly inflamed. More importantly, you could have a higher risk of disease down the line, without having a clue.
” Hidden, chronic, low-grade, systemic inflammation is a “hot topic” in health and wellness because it’s increasingly recognised as a major driver of heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s, as well as autoimmune conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and rheumatoid arthritis (where the immune system starts to attack the healthy cells of organs and tissues). And scientists now believe “inflammaging” is one of several essential factors that drive ageing in humans..
