Does Inflammation Cause Heart Disease?

by Richard J. Manager

It’s an accepted consensus in medical community that cardiovascular disease is caused by a variety of factors – tobacco smoking, inadequate levels of physical activity, genetic predispositions, stress, high levels of blood cholesterol, unhealthy diet, etc. But why do these factors provoke heart problems? There seems to be one common factor that unites all the above mentioned ones – it’s inflammation. Researchers believe that it can be the ultimate cause of any heart disease, and all other factors are mediated by inflammation.

Chronic stress

Psychological stress is known to trigger a physiological inflammatory response, thus chronic stress can result in chronic inflammation. Studies show that people suffering from chronic stress and depression have elevated levels of inflammation markers. They are also are more likely to develop diabetes and become overweight (which is also a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases).

High cholesterol levels

It promotes the development of atherosclerosis characterized by the build-up of atherosclerotic plaques (fatty deposits) in the walls of the arteries, which in its turn narrows the lumen of the arteries and increases the risk of their blockage. The body sees such plaques as foreign and abnormal and tries to fence them off from the flowing blood. The inflammatory cytokines synthesized at the site of atherosclerotic plaque can weaken and loosen it, thus triggering rapture of the plaque and subsequent blood clot formation.

Smoking

Studies have shown that inhalation of incredibly hot burnt cigarette material seriously increases inflammation in the body, whereas quitting smoking immediately lowers inflammation. Some studies even show that smoking exerts acute inflammatory stress on atherosclerotic plaques; and therefore, it increases the chances of their rapture which can result in a stroke.

Inadequate physical activity

Researchers believe that both extreme overtraining and sedentary lifestyle are linked to increased inflammation. Adequate exercising can protect against atherosclerosis through elevating shear stress on the walls of the arteries and making their endothelium less permeable, which prevents the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. However, too much of shear stress can trigger increased inflammatory response and actually induces atherosclerosis that can lead to a stroke, myocardial infarction, and peripheral artery disease.