Guide To The Causes Of Chronic Inflammation

Obesity

One of the most common causes of chronic inflammation is obesity. Obesity-related inflammation is a known cause of many life-threatening conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancerous tumors. Adipose tissue is believed to be the source of these problems. This tissue reacts to overnutrition by creating inflammation as part of an immune response. This process may play a role in the insulin resistance scenario responsible for causing diabetes. Due to this, many new therapies to treat diabetes are focusing on obesity-related inflammation.

There is also evidence indicating that an imbalance of gut microbiota, the microorganisms naturally found in the digestive tract, contribute to obesity and the inflammatory disorders associated with it. Some of these microorganisms produce short-chain fatty acids. These are metabolites known for causing weight loss. An imbalance in gut microbiota can reduce these healthy acids, ultimately leading to weight gain and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis can cause chronic inflammation in various joints. This process occurs when autoantibodies, proteins created by the immune system, mistakenly attack healthy tissue and organs. Although inflamed joints are the most common and visible signs of this disorder, the inflammatory process itself is believed to be much more widespread. Blood tests on patients often reveal autoantibodies in the lab results many years before their joints are affected. This is known as the preclinical stage of this disease.

However, other locations in the body can be affected during the clinical stages. The eyes, lungs, heart, brain, and blood vessels can all be vulnerable to the widespread inflammation seen in this condition. This may sometimes lead to secondary conditions, such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. All these conditions are more common in rheumatoid arthritis patients than in the general population. They have been linked to systemic inflammation as well.