Silent Inflammation Tips

Posted on May 7, 2008

Beware These Inflammatory InvadersAlthough chronic inflammation research is limited, data suggest that a variety of stresses on the body may promote chronic inflammation. Specifically, smoking, alcohol, drugs, and caffeine have been associated with increased levels of inflammatory proteins in the body. For example, if you smoke, the body sees the tobacco as an invader and produces chemicals to fight against it. Constant attacks on the body tissue over time may lead to chronic inflammation and tissue damage, such as the development of lung cancer in a chronic smoker. In addition, the body can consider daily stress as an unnatural invader to be fought. If you have ever broken out in a rash due to stress, that’s an example of an inflammatory response, although these responses are usually short-lived. At this time, no data is able to associate the rash you might have developed the week of the big meeting with an increased risk for disease later in life.
C-Reactive Proteins: The Body’s Inflammation Indicators
Although the concept of silent inflammation is not widely used in medicine, the body has other indicators of inflammation that aren’t so silent. C-reactive proteins are measured to show inflammation in the body. They are elevated in people who have heart disease, arthritis, or other chronic illness and they may identify people who may be at increased risk for chronic illness.

A CRP test analyzes a simple blood sample for the level of C-reactive protein that is present. But a CRP test is general, not specific. Elevated CRP levels suggest that there is inflammation in the body, but the measurement alone won’t tell you where the inflammation is; elevated levels could mean a variety of conditions including cancer, pneumonia, tuberculosis, or infection. And just to make things more complicated, birth control pills can cause elevated CRP results, as can the last half of pregnancy.

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Normal CRP values vary from one lab to another, but in general a healthy person has no noticeable elevation of CRP in the blood, but if you are at risk for heart disease, your doctor can use a more highly sensitive CRP test (called the hs-CRP) to look more closely for elevated CRP levels.

According to the American Heart Association your risk for heart disease is associated with the following levels:

-Low-risk: A hs-CRP level of less than 1.0 mg/L

-Moderate risk: A hs-CRP level between 1.0 and 3.0 mg/L

-High risk: A hs-CRP level higher than 3.0 mg/L
Exercise: The Double-Edged Sword Of Inflammation
Exercise is the double-edged sword of inflammation research. Exercise releases endorphins, which can soothe inflammation, and it also reduces body fat, which can reduce chronic inflammation.

But, exercise causes inflammation while you’re doing it. In fact, a muscle enzyme called creatine phosphokinase (CPK) is elevated after running or a similarly intense activity. This inflammation is short-term, but if you had your CPK measured immediately after a marathon, the level of inflammation would suggest that you were having a heart attack.

Similarly, if you had a liver function test right after a marathon, you would have elevated levels of an enzyme called aspartate aminotransferase.

Most people aren’t having their enzymes checked right after a marathon, but the point is that measurements of proteins and inflammation in the body is a tricky business, and it’s important to talk to your doctor about any test results and be sure to tell your doctor about your diet and exercise habits.

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Hormones May Play A Role In Chronic Inflammation
Chronic inflammation means that the body’s immune system is going into overdrive. During menopause, estrogen levels drop, and research has shown that post-menopausal women are at increased risk for chronic inflammation compared with pre-menopausal women. In addition, many women gain weight during menopause, and it’s possible that the increased number of fat cells could promote chronic inflammation, because fat cells are a source of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Although there are studies in progress to assess what role, if any, estrogen might play in reducing chronic inflammation in post-menopausal women, there is not enough information to promote hormone replacement therapy as a way to control chronic inflammation.

If you are concerned about estrogen and you are interested in hormone replacement therapy for any reason, be sure to discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
How To Assess Your Silent Inflammation Status
If you are curious about whether you have some level of silent inflammation, ask your doctor about the AA/EPA test. If you get this test, here’s how to interpret the results:

-Ideal: An AA/EPA ratio of 1.5

-Good: An AA/EPA ratio of 3

-Headed for chronic disease: An AA/EPA ratio greater than 10

-Existing chronic disease: An AA/EPA ratio greater than 15

The ratio is based on the average AA/EPA in the Japanese population overall because of the average longevity of many Japanese people. The average AA/EPA ratio among Americans who have been measured is 11, which suggests than many Americans have chronic health problems that put them at risk for future disease, but data are limited and only a few laboratories in the U.S. and the world conduct the specific type of fatty acid analysis needed to come up with the AA/EPA ratio.

Caveat: The AA/EPA test is only available in limited research facilities in the
U.S. If you want more information about the test, contact a company called Your Future Health by calling 877-468-6934 and they will arrange an AA/EPA test for you.

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Inflammatory Disease: When The Body Puts Up A Fight Against Itself
Inflammation is the bodies natural response to an invasion of any sort. When a mosquito bites you, the swelling around the spot is body’s response to the invasion. When you sprain your ankle, it swells because blood cells are racing to the scene.

When you develop rheumatoid arthritis, the characteristic swelling of the joints is another form of the body’s response to invasion, but in the case of rheumatoid arthritis (or other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus) the invader is the bodies own immune system gone haywire. The body confuses healthy tissue with foreign substances and inflammation occurs. The most common manifestation of this inflammation is in the painfully swollen joints and tissues surrounding the joints.

C-reactive protein tests (CRP tests) are often used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and to compare CRP levels in someone who is taking medication to determine whether the medication is working.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you can develop a treatment plan with your doctor that will likely involve a combination of medication and exercises. Early, aggressive therapy can delay joint destruction, but people with severe rheumatoid arthritis may eventually need surgery.
Sleep Soundly To Reduce Chronic Inflammation
In addition to eating more omega 3-rich foods such as flaxseed and fish, you can potentially reduce or prevent chronic inflammation by making an effort to get plenty of sleep. Most physicians recommend seven to nine hours of sleep a night, which simply doesn’t happen for many busy adults, and certainly doesn’t happen for new parents with infants.

But do your best to sleep because sleep is the body’s time to heal, and as the body heals it reduces chronic inflammation. Chronic sleep deprivation has been associated with increased stress and with increased levels of inflammation in the body. Everyone’s sleep needs are different, and older people may not sleep for seven hours at once, but a minimum of seven hours per night allows most people to feel well rested.
Some Foods Promote Inflammation
The hard science on which specific foods promote or prevent inflammation remains uncertain. But there seems to be a consensus that foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids may reduce inflammation in the body, while spicy foods promote inflammation. But that’s no reason to run away from red pepper. The bottom line is that you can’t go wrong by eating a balanced diet that includes whole grains, fruits, and vegetables and provides a balance of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.

That said, in case you’re curious, here are some theories about food and inflammation, to take with a proverbial grain of salt:

-Some dermatologists have suggested that eating too many starchy foods will trigger inflammation that makes your face look older, including not only donuts and croissants, but hard cheese and honey.

-Although hot red peppers have been shown to cause inflammation, other spices including ginger, rosemary, and basil may help cool you down.

-Foods rich in antioxidants have been associated with reduced measures of inflammation.
The Noise About Silent Inflammation Recent health research has suggested that some people may be at increased risk of illness if they demonstrate “silent inflammation” in the body. Silent inflammation refers to a response that occurs in the body when the immune system goes awry. It has been associated with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and even dementia. The “silent” part of the name is because this inflammation is subtle and can go undetected for years. One current method for measuring silent inflammation is a blood test called the AA/EPA test, which stands for a ratio of two essential fatty acids: Arachadonic acid (AA) and Eicosapetenoic acid (EPA). Analyses of these acids (which are collected via a blood test) have shown some association between elevated AA/EPA levels and chronic illnesses. Although research on silent inflammation is limited, data suggest that a diet high in omega 3 fatty acids can reduce the AA/EPA ratio. In theory, reducing this ratio will reduce the silent inflammation in the body, which may be associated with a reduced risk of chronic disease. Even if you don’t know or care about silent inflammation, omega 3 fatty acids have proven health and nutritional benefits, and fish should be part of any healthy diet plan. You could also take fish oil to reduce your AA/EPA ratio, but if you haven’t had it measured, you can’t go wrong by incorporating fish and other sources of omega 3 fatty acids into your diet.