Chronic inflammation — a persistent immune response that lingers long after an injury or infection has healed — can quietly damage healthy tissues and contribute to serious diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular disease, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Jim LaValle, a clinical pharmacist and metabolic medicine expert based in Texas, told Fox News Digital that inflammation is influenced by far more than injury or infection. He pointed first to the gut-immune-brain connection — the communication network linking gut microbes, the immune system and the central nervous system — as a key pathway that shapes the body's inflammatory response.
Stress management plays a central role in that system, LaValle said. Cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress, can «wreak havoc on your chemistry» when levels stay elevated, he noted. Chronic stress can also weaken the intestinal barrier, potentially allowing substances that normally remain inside the gut to pass through more easily — a condition sometimes called «leaky gut.» That increased permeability may leave people more prone to irritable bowel and other digestive symptoms, LaValle said.
Diet is another lever. Foods high in sugar, fat and ultraprocessed ingredients can affect gut health, and paying attention to which foods trigger bloating, rashes or discomfort after eating may help identify sensitivities or intolerances, though such symptoms can have other causes. Certain medications, including antibiotics, may also alter the gut microbiome, with effects that vary by drug and individual.
Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is another important factor in managing inflammation, according to LaValle. Diabetes and insulin resistance are often associated with chronic inflammation, and research suggests that GLP-1 medications — commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity — may have anti-inflammatory effects, while scientists investigate other potential benefits beyond weight loss and blood sugar control.
The «exposome,» or the sum of environmental exposures people experience throughout their lives, can also influence inflammation and chronic disease risk, according to the National Institutes of Health. LaValle pointed to emerging research on how exposures including «forever chemicals,» microplastics, metals and pesticides may affect weight, blood sugar regulation and other aspects of health. «A lot of us don't think about that kind of impact on our health and how that could trigger inflammation signaling,» he said.
Exercise is generally supportive, but LaValle cautioned that intense workouts without adequate recovery can add stress to the body. «You're not getting a good enough recovery,» he said. «You're training hard. And, in fact, you might be training hard every day to lower that cortisol, but you're not getting good recovery. And that could lead to silent inflammatory signaling as well.»
Because chronic inflammation can develop without obvious symptoms, anyone concerned about it or experiencing persistent symptoms should consult a doctor to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment, LaValle advised.