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Amidst the hectic modern lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits, many such minor problems arise in our body which we often ignore considering them minor. People often ignore slight swelling or pain in any part of the body by considering it as tiredness or normal infection, but do you know that this seemingly minor chronic inflammation can later take the form of a serious and deadly disease like cancer? Health experts and medical research have shockingly revealed that prolonged inflammation in the body damages the DNA of cells, which leads to the onset of cancer. In this article, we will learn in detail how this inflammation that smolders within the body can become a major threat to our health and how it can be avoided by identifying its symptoms in time.
Whenever there is any kind of injury, infection or external attack in our body, the immune system immediately becomes active and produces inflammation in that area, which is considered a defensive process. This acute inflammation gets cured in a few days and keeps the body safe. But the problem arises when instead of getting cured due to any infection or disease, this inflammation persists inside the body for a long time i.e. for weeks, months or years, which is called chronic inflammation. This slow-moving internal inflammation continuously causes damage to the healthy tissues and cells of the body, thereby impairing their functioning and ultimately increasing the risk of uncontrolled cell division i.e. tumor or cancer manifold.
The deep connection between chronic inflammation and cancer: how does normal inflammation turn into disease?
According to cancer experts, there is a direct and deep scientific link between chronic inflammation within the body and cancer. When an organ becomes chronically inflamed, the body’s immune cells attempt to repair the area, but this lengthy process produces oxidative stress and free radicals that damage the DNA of nearby healthy cells. When these mutations or changes in DNA become uncontrolled, they take the form of cancer cells. Persistent inflammation of the liver due to chronic gastritis, intestinal disease such as colitis, or hepatitis are the biggest and most obvious examples, which can turn into cancer over time.
Often people try to suppress persistent pain, mild swelling or irritation in any part of the body with painkillers or home remedies, but they forget that they are only reducing the symptoms superficially while the internal disease is deepening its roots. Unless the real cause of this swelling of the internal organs of the body is detected and treated accurately, the sword of danger continues to hang. This is why doctors always emphasize that any chronic physical problem should not be ignored and one should get a complete checkup of one’s body done from time to time so that any major danger can be prevented in the initial stage itself.
In which organs and for what reasons does this dangerous and hidden inflammation develop in the body?
There can be many reasons behind the development of chronic inflammation in the body, of which our poor lifestyle, excessive mental stress, smoking, alcohol consumption and unhealthy diet are the most prominent. Eating junk food, refined sugar and excessive fried foods increases pro-inflammatory markers in the body which promote inflammation in the internal organs. Apart from this, people who have diseases related to the digestive system like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) always have inflammation in their stomach and intestines, which increases the risk of colorectal cancer in the future. Similarly, if fatty liver problem is not controlled in time, it leads to liver cirrhosis and ultimately liver cancer.
Environmental pollutants, harmful chemicals, and certain types of chronic infections (such as H. pylori bacteria or human papilloma virus) also cause chronic inflammation in different parts of the body. This hidden inflammation continues to weaken the organs internally without any major initial pain, and by the time its symptoms come to the surface, the condition has become quite serious. Therefore, it is extremely important that we understand our body’s signals and immediately change the habits that promote this type of internal inflammation.
Adopt these important measures to reduce swelling and avoid the risk of cancer.
Since chronic inflammation and cancer risk are deeply linked to our daily lifestyle and eating habits, we can reduce this risk to a great extent by improving our habits. First of all, include plenty of anti-inflammatory foods in your diet, such as green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, turmeric, ginger, garlic, walnuts, almonds and things rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These natural ingredients neutralize the free radicals present inside the body and work like a perfect medicine in reducing internal inflammation. Apart from this, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and managing stress also strengthens our immune system.
Consumption of processed foods, excessive sugar, packaged snacks and cold drinks should be completely stopped because all these things do the most to increase inflammation in the body. Bad habits like smoking and alcohol not only damage the lungs and liver, but also increase the levels of inflammation throughout the body to dangerous limits. If there is any swelling or pain in your body which is not getting better even after weeks, then without any delay consult a good doctor and get the necessary medical tests done. Only vigilance and right decision taken on time can save you from falling prey to any major and serious disease.