Chronic Inflammation Linked to Heart Disease and Stroke

What Is Inflammation?

Inflammation is the body’s response to injury or infection. Normally this is a chain of events meant to promote tissue repair.

What is Chronic Inflammation?

This is inflammation that is not triggered in response to injury or infection. The body’s normal system of protection and repair actually turns on itself and results in tissue damage.

Why is this Important?

Almost half of all heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol. A marker for inflammation is a chemical called C-reactive protein. In 2002 the New England Journal of Medicine published a study in women showing a link between increased C-reactive protein level and an increase in heart problems like stoke and heart attacks. The researchers state that C-reactive protein was a stronger predictor of cardiovascular events than LDL cholesterol.

Does decreasing inflammation decrease risk?

In January 2005 there were 2 studies in the New England Journal of Medicine that show the potential benefits of lowering C-reactive protein levels. The first study took people who had suffered a heart attack and gave them drug therapy to lower cholesterol and C-reactive protein. They found those with lower cholesterol had a lower cardiac risk, but they also found those who had lower C-reactive protein levels also had lower cardiac risks. This benefit was independent of the benefit of lowering cholesterol.

In the second study, people who had atherosclerosis (partially blocked diseased arteries) were given therapy to lower cholesterol and C-reactive protein. There was less progression of artery disease in the group who had the lowest C-reactive protein. This benefit was independent of lowering cholesterol level.

Latest Research

In the November 20 New England Journal of Medicine there is a medical study in which researchers treated apparently healthy people who had high C-reactive protein but normal cholesterol. One group was given medication to lower the C-reactive protein and the other was given a placebo. They were then followed to see if they would develop heart problems. The treated group suffered almost half the heart attacks and strokes as those who were not treated. The results were so significant, the researchers stopped the study 3 years early to offer treatment to all the study participants.

How are C-reactive protein and inflammation reduced?

In the above studies C-reactive protein was reduced by cholesterol lowering drugs known as statins. These are well known to lower both cholesterol and more recently C-reactive protein. There is also evidence that diet, exercise, weight loss and quitting smoking can lower C-reactive protein and inflammation. Trans fats in the diet have been shown to increase C-reactive protein and inflammation.

Conclusion

While it may still be too early to test everyone for C-reactive protein and treat a high level, it certainly is something you should discuss with your doctor. If you are at a low risk for cardiovascular disease you may not need to worry about C-reactive protein levels. If you are at moderate risk, knowing this level may help to direct your treatment. A high C-reactive protein may indicate more aggressive therapy is needed Finally, if you are at high cardiovascular risk, you need aggressive cholesterol reduction therapy which in turn will help lower C-reactive protein. Whatever your situation, eat a healthy low-fat diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and follow an exercise program. A healthy lifestyle will help your medication achieve the best possible results.

Where can I get more information?

One excellent source of information is the American heart Association website. Here is their explanation of Inflammation and the role of C-reactive protein.

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