Chronic Inflammation

Definition

Chronic inflammation is a prolonged inflammatory response that can last for months or even years, often leading to tissue damage and various health issues.

Scientific / Technical Definition

Chronic inflammation is a pathological condition characterized by a slow, long-term inflammation lasting for prolonged periods of several months to years. It can arise from failure to eliminate whatever was causing an acute inflammation, an autoimmune response to a self-antigen, or a chronic irritant of low intensity that persists.

Benefits

• Helps identify and tackle some persistent health conditions.
• Gaining an understanding of chronic inflammation can encourage lifestyle changes to reduce risk.

Examples

• A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish can help manage chronic inflammation.
• Conditions such as arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and some forms of heart disease can involve chronic inflammation.

Additional Information

• importance: Chronic inflammation is important to understand because it is linked to several degenerative diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and autoimmune disorders.

Related Terms

• Acute Inflammation
• Autoimmune Disease
• Anti-inflammatory Diet
• Immunity

References

• Chronic Inflammation: Causes and Effects on the Human Body
• The Role of Inflammation in Disease
• Anti-inflammatory Foods and Chronic Inflammation