The scary new factor you probably don’t know about

No one likes inflammatory situations. They usually spell trouble. And when it comes to those related to your health, inflammation can indeed be risky - and probably not in the way you're thinking.

While the word may call to mind joint pain or skin issues, inflammation is now a hotbed of research as it is emerging as a major factor in a whole range of chronic ailments from heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's and some cancers. Serious stuff indeed.

Short term or acute inflammation is something we're all familiar with - a cut finger can become inflamed and turn red. It can be a sign that the body has revved up its healing process and sent out compounds to mend the wound. In this case, a good thing.

But science is now showing that there is something called chronic inflammation and that it's anything but healthy. It appears that certain lifestyle elements put the inflammatory process into overdrive so instead of just reacting to a situation requiring healing like a cut, the body continues to release these compounds. Obesity, high blood pressure and some foods are among those factors. And blood levels of these substances can now be measured. C-reactive protein (CRP), and cytokine readings are just two that can signal that trouble may be brewing.

The potential cost to health is now coming to light. For example, research shows that inflammation in the arteries can lead to a greater chance of plaque build up and a narrowing of the arteries. It can also lead to plaque instability meaning that portions of the plaque can break off from the artery and lodge in the heart or brain, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

And it's not just affairs of the heart involved. A study published earlier this year in the journal Diabetes Care looked at the levels certain compounds in the blood that measure inflammation and their link to the development of type 2 or what used to be called adult-onset diabetes. And across all ethnic groups, high levels of inflammatory readings went hand in hand with the odds of developing diabetes.

Research shows that while some cancers or malignancies may be caused initially by exposure to a carcinogen or cancer causing agent, other tumours may occur when inflamed cells mutate or become abnormal and then cancerous.

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