What happens if inflammation is left untreated?

Inflammation is a natural response of your immune system to protect your body from foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and other harmful agents. However, inflammation can become chronic when it persists for an extended period due to untreated underlying medical conditions. If left unchecked, chronic inflammation can have serious consequences that affect various aspects of your health.

The Silent Danger

Chronic inflammation has been termed the “silent danger” because its effects creep up slowly over time without being noticed until they develop into more severe complications. Many people suffer from it for years without knowing they have it because the symptoms are not always apparent at first glance.

Fun Fact: According to research by Oxford Academic Journal and CDC records [1], Chronic low-grade inflammations lead to aging and many age-related diseases.

Here’s what happens when you leave inflammation untreated:

Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance develops when cells fail to respond appropriately to insulin signals resulting in high blood glucose levels. It restricts glucose (a primary fuel) uptake by muscles causing diabetes or pre-diabetes [2]. Chronic systemic inflammation leads systems attack on healthy tissues leading them towards insulin resistance; if left untreated could result in type 2 diabetes [].

Joint degeneration

Inflammatory mediators like cytokines are known culprits behind joint degradation which eventually leads towards arthritis due to destruction of synovial collagen []

  • Synovitis-Inflammation scores were most strongly associated with progression within knees
    and least with changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) independently confirmation cartilage loss is crucial component.

  • TNF-[alpha] Blockers-> Interrupting autoimmunity before irretrievable damage pays off greatly^[4].

Cardiovascular disease

Acute inflammatory responses during cardiovascular emergencies are adaptive but unnecessary long-term inflammatory response damages vessel wall’s endothelium reducing plaque removal ability -eventually leading towards heart or other cardiovascular problems. One observational study demonstrated that C-reactive protein (CRP) associated with increased risk coronary diseases and stroke, typically among men [].

Cancer

Though inflammation in the body’s natural response to foreign invaders, it can contribute to several chronic diseases like cancer [5]. Inflammatory cells release oxygen species causing damage at replicated genetic material often leading tumor formation.

  • Tumor necrosis factor(TNF-[alpha]) is one of many cytokines promoting new blood vessel growth-angiogenesis which helps tumors survive ^[6].

  • Oxidative stress from exposure leads DNA mutations & genomic instability creating suitable environment for tumorigenesis^[7].

Fact: Some foods have anti-inflammatory compounds such as vegetables, fruits alongside probiotics which reduce bacteria inducing inflammation^[8],[9]

Autoimmune disorders

Chronic systemic inflammation implies the increase autoimmune risk associated with multiple irregular reactions due underlying immunity caused by long-chain sugars consumed daily biasing immune system slowly pointing its attack on healthy tissues eventually discarding them as irrelevant antigens opting for chronic suffering triggered by even smaller irritants.

Conclusion

In summary, untreated inflammation always poses a dangerous outcome in your general health and could potentially lead t serious medical conditions including impaired function of organs meanwhile increasing risks Alzheimer’s disease. The good news; fortunately keeping tabs on lifestyle factors(misuse alcohol/cigarettes), dietary habits(inevitability sugar overconsumption will only enhance future complications), medicine/therapy routine check-ups could largely reduce this persistent unwanted ailment if not completely eradicate it altogether don’t postpone taking action!

Fun Fact: Did you know laughing reduces Cortisol secretion(True!) reducing chances of developments regarding many autoimmune Diseases? Quirky huh?

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Sources:

1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18593899/

2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3087029/

3) https://blogs.biomedcentral.com/on-health/2020/07/17/how-does-chronic-inflammation-affect-diabetes-risk-and-outcomes/

4) Radin, A., Kramer, E.J., Tanskey, G.L. et al.Comparison of Clinical Study Outcomes Performing Intra-Articular Injections with Platelet-Rich Plasma vs those Executing Corticosteroids in Sports-related Knee Injury:Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord (2018);11:1179544117753702.

5 )https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5930616/#S10title

6) Hernandez-Ontiveros DG1,Ruiz-Arguelles A(2017).A Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Expression Screen Identifies Subgroups of Breast Cancer With Poor OutcomeSci Rep.(15),18074

7)Li H,Dong CS,Mitchell JR,Fuze,JR(998).Effects of an antioxidant mixture on micronuclei formation by oxidative stressors in vitro.Cancer Lett.;128(2):197–203.

8)Valko M,Leibfritz D,Modes V,Singh J,Bilska,A,Ciseniece S,Kratky M,Urbahn,J,Kazdova L.Resveratrol,alpha-tocopherol,andascorbic acid reduce hydrogen peroxide-inducedoxidative stressandneutrophilactivationin WHhl rabbits.Br J Nutr.(2007);98(6):1155–1167.

9) Martin,F,WangY,SeldinM,BersvendsenJ(2010).Effects of cocoa flavanols on risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Del.(55):484-493.

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