What do heart disease, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, gout, asthma, and other chronic conditions have in common? Inflammation! If you’re experiencing chronic illness (or might be), you owe it to yourself to get the facts about inflammation and what it’s doing to your health.

The dangers of inflammation

There are two kinds of inflammation—acute (short term) and chronic (long term). While acute inflammation is an essential part of the healing process, chronic inflammation can lead to many of the health conditions plaguing people today.

…how inflammation is linked to chronic disease. It turns out inflammation is a key player in a wide range of chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease. 

…how allergies can lead to inflammation. Sometimes the immune system becomes hypersensitive to allergens like dust and pollen. As the guide explains, repeated exposure to these allergens can lead to inflammation, which, left unchecked, can cause tissue damage.

…what inflammation can do to your joints. —rheumatoid arthritis and gout—and how inflammation is a key factor in both. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system attacks itself, leading to inflammation that can damage tissues. The inflammation associated with gout can, over the long term, cause joint damage and a loss of mobility.

…the effect of inflammation on the brain. Even your brain is susceptible to inflammation.