On Inflammation

Medications help treat diseases. Understanding the root cause of disease is taught to doctors in various courses including pathophysiology.

Inflammation contributes to diseases and makes ongoing diseases hasten and progress at a faster rate. Inflammation begins on a cellular level and can be tested with labs such as ESR and CRP. In early COVID, these along with d-dimer were checked in ICU patients. At that time, it was proved that patients with higher levels of inflammation and with obesity and chronic diseases had worse outcomes than patients who were healthy and had lower inflammatory markers.

Of note- vaccines work. Science proved vaccines save millions of lives and we previously eradicated measles, poliovirus, etc. The COVID epidemic proved that viruses do not discriminate and millions of patients died worldwide before the COVID vaccine was developed. If you think you do not need a vaccine please consult with your PCP to discuss.

Autoimmune diseases are tested and diagnosed with serology for auto antibodies (antibodies your body makes like anti TPO in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and many others). Autoimmune diseases range from skin (psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis), thyroid (Hashimoto's, Graves), rheumatoid (various arthritis conditions, lupus), GI (Crohns and ulcerative colitis), and many others.

We know that inflammation in the body makes other chronic conditions like CAD (coronary artery disease) progress at a faster rate. Doctors like Dr. Dean Ornish proved that a plant based diet along with heathy habits (regular exercise) and stress management halts the progression of heart disease. There is ongoing research, which will likely show that we can slow neurodegenerative diseases and other chronic health conditions with this approach.

So what is the root cause of inflammation? Think stress management, exercise, love and healthy diet. Pathophysiology shows that all diseases are connected on a biochemical, cellular, physiologic and anatomical level.

So how do we apply this to our daily lives? First of all, continue your prescription medications. This blog is NOT to dissuade you from medications that lower inflammation and treat chronic diseases. Medications work and save lives. I am an MD and there is evidence based literature behind pharmaceutical medications. Heart disease in particular, patients live longer and do better if they continue on certain medications (like beta blockers, statins, Repatha, Entresto and aspirin). Please listen to the advice of your PCP and specialists for further guidance in this regard. However, diet and lifestyle changes play a quintessential role in disease progression and prevention. So continue diet and lifestyle changes as recommended by your PCP.