Inflammation is a natural immune response that helps protect the body from injury and infection, but when it becomes chronic, it can pose a health threat, according to the National Institutes of Health.Over time, chronic inflammation can contribute to rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular disease.Keeping the condition in check can help protect healthy tissues and support overall health, experts say.POPULAR WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS MAY HELP PROTECT AGAINST A DEADLY DISEASE, DOCTOR SAYSJim LaValle, a clinical pharmacist and metabolic medicine expert based in Texas, told Fox News Digital that inflammation can be influenced by a variety of factors beyond injury or infection.Inflammation is a natural immune response that helps protect the body from injury and infection, but chronic inflammation can damage healthy tissues and contribute to serious diseases.(iStock)LaValle first pointed to the gut-immune-brain connection — the communication between gut microbes, the immune system and the central nervous system — as one pathway that can influence the body's inflammatory response.Beyond gut health, he said several everyday lifestyle factors can play a role in preventing chronic inflammation.DOCTORS SAY 8 FORGOTTEN HABITS COULD HELP FIGHT STRESS, OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASEManaging stress and anxiety can help support the gut-brain connection and keep inflammation in check, according to LaValle.He pointed to cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress, which he said can "wreak havoc on your chemistry" when levels remain elevated.Stress can "wreak havoc on your chemistry," the expert warned.
(iStock)Chronic stress can also affect the intestinal barrier, potentially allowing substances that would normally remain inside the gut to pass through more easily, LaValle said.This increased intestinal permeability is sometimes called "leaky gut."ZERO SUGAR, MORE PROBLEMS? STUDY REVEALS SURPRISING GUT HEALTH EFFECTS"So, it turns out that if I'm s...