why specialists consider it a silent epidemic

Question: I had depression that did not respond to antidepressants or psychotherapy. I made a consultation and they asked me for some tests. They added an anti-inflammatory and gave me a diet. My condition today is optimal. (Nadine Pomaryz, La Plata)

Lately, medicine is realizing that chronic inflammation can be a silent and lethal process that contributes to the genesis of countless diseases: cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, depression, Alzheimer’s, stroke.

Already in 2018 the magazine Nature published research indicating that more than 50% of all deaths in the world were related to low-intensity chronic inflammatory procedures.

The chronic inflammatory process can be so underground that many patients and professionals do not detect since they usually express themselves with manifestations or symptoms to which patients progressively resign themselves. And, even more so, if inflammatory markers in the blood are not measured either.

The feeling of prolonged tiredness, weakness and lack of physical resistance, emotional decayfrequent colds, uncomfortable recurring infections, diffuse body pain, abdominal discomfort or distention, alterations in intestinal evacuation, allergies, skin, nails or joint disorders, are some of its possible expressions.

Acute inflammation is a normal mechanism and necessary through which the organism defends itself from harmful substances of a different nature that may harm it.

But in uninterrupted or chronic inflammation, a kind of domino effect occurs:

1) A stimulus activates the immune system.

2) It responds by attacking and defending itself with the necessary immediate inflammatory response.

3) Once the harmful stimulus has been canceled the immune system slows down its activity (its normal).

4) But, on the other hand, if its response is not stopped and prolonged indefinitely, the chronic inflammatory process is generated.

5) To the extent that it persists damages cells, organs, and blood vessels, leading to loss of normal functions of organs and increases the risk of health problems.

Various studies demonstrate how Western societies face an epidemic of this type of chronic inflammation since our immune system must adapt to various threats.

The importance of some predisposing factors must be highlighted:

1) Psychological stress and always being worried.

2) Live fast.

4) The poor quality of the food.

Regarding the latter, there is a clear generational component since it is not eaten like our grandparents did nor is the quality of the food the same.

It is added that foods that are pro-inflammatory are ingested, such as consuming excess sugar, processed oilsa smaller amount of olive oil, a low intake of fish and a greater consumption of red meat, sausages or canned foods.

Reference should also be made to a decrease in the quality of current medical care, and not because there are bad professionals, but because of a system that forces a patient to be treated for 15 minutes and does not allow research or requesting studies to evaluate the level of chronic inflammation present or know the lifestyle you have.

There is a tendency to treat or eliminate the symptom and not to detect its causes. Much less, aim at prevention.