| The newest
research into the cause of many diseases such as heart disease, cancer,
diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Rheumatoid Arthritis is linked to inflammation
in the body that goes out of control.
Under normal circumstances inflammation in
our bodies is a normal and necessary response to fight a foreign protein
(like a splinter in our finger), or a bacteria, virus or a parasite.
However, with some people the inflammation process does not run its course
and turn off, but continues and becomes chronic; the body in effect turns
on itself. What we see in chronic inflammation is that the heart arteries
become inflamed at the sight of cholesteral deposits, or nerve cells in
the brains of Alzheimer victims become chronically inflamed.
The theory is that our modern diet and
life style with a diet high in sugars and saturated fats accompanied by
little or no exercise is linked to our body’s response to chronic
inflammation.
Our body’s response to bacteria, viruses
or foreign proteins is our basic immune response. As soon as there is an
injury or a bacteria gets into our body there is a cascade of events that
occurs to destroy the invader.
- Mast Cells in our tissue sense that
presence of a foreign body and release histamines and cytokines that
alert the body that something is wrong. Also, injured capillaries (tiny
arteries) develop leaks that allow other immune cells to rush into the
sight of trauma.
- The Macrophage cells at the injury
sight attack bacteria and damaged cells using toxic chemicals like
nitric oxide.
- Neutrophiles, other blood cells,
engulf and destroy bacteria and damage tissue and lymphocytes and intensify
the immune response.
- When the bacteria and damaged tissue
is eliminated, our platelet blood cells form clots and close the wound.
When things go wrong, the healing
response is not activated and there is continuous inflammation; or the
macrophages chew up the cholesterol deposits in the coronary arteries and
damage the artery; or glial cells destroy neurons in the brain.
Drugs:
- Aspirin is being looked at again as an
effective way to control inflammation in the brain’s of Alzheimer
patients.
- Statins drive down levels of some
inflammatory proteins.
- Beta blockers and ACE inhibitors
(blood pressure medication) may lower inflammatory factors.
- Omega 3 oils (from fish) and
chondroitin sulphate have an effect to reduce inflammation.
Summary:
Some people have an inflammatory response
that goes out of control, especially at the site of the heart arteries,
the brain or the joints, causing severe damage. There are good health
habits that can reduce these abnormal responses, such as regular exercise,
a diet rich in Omega 3 oils, colorful fruits and vegetables and avoiding
saturated fats. |
