February – Heart Health & Inflammation
Heart Health Isn’t Just About Cholesterol: What You Need to Know About Inflammation
When most people think about heart disease, they think about cholesterol. While cholesterol does matter, it is only part of the picture. There is another major driver of heart disease that often goes unnoticed: inflammation.
Understanding inflammation—and how it affects your body—can change the way you approach your health and help you prevent problems before they start.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is your body’s natural defense system. When you get injured or sick, your immune system activates to protect and heal you. This is a good thing in the short term.
The problem occurs when inflammation becomes chronic. Instead of helping, it begins to damage healthy tissues, including your blood vessels.
How does inflammation affect the heart?
Chronic, low-grade inflammation plays a central role in the development of heart disease. It contributes to the formation and progression of plaque inside the arteries, which can eventually lead to heart attacks or strokes. 1
Even more importantly, inflammation can be present even when cholesterol levels appear normal. This means someone may be told their labs are “fine,” while underlying risk is still building.
Why isn’t cholesterol the whole story?
Traditional heart risk assessments focus heavily on cholesterol. While this is important, it does not fully capture what is happening inside the arteries.
Research shows that inflammation is a key driver of cardiovascular disease and can predict risk independently of cholesterol levels. 1
In fact, some individuals with normal cholesterol still develop heart disease because inflammation is not being addressed.
What causes chronic inflammation?
Several common lifestyle factors contribute to ongoing inflammation:
- Diet high in processed foods and sugar
- Chronic stress
- Poor sleep
- Lack of physical activity
- Excess body fat
- Smoking
These factors often overlap, creating a cycle that increases long-term cardiovascular risk.
Are there warning signs of inflammation?
Chronic inflammation is often silent, but patients may experience:
- Persistent fatigue
- Brain fog
- Difficulty losing weight
- Abdominal weight gain
- Poor recovery after exercise
These symptoms are often dismissed but can signal underlying metabolic and inflammatory imbalance.
How can inflammation be measured?
One commonly used marker is a blood test called high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). This test helps identify low-grade inflammation in the body and can provide additional insight into cardiovascular risk.
Higher hs-CRP levels are associated with increased risk of future heart disease, even in otherwise healthy individuals. 1
What can you do to reduce inflammation?
The most effective strategies focus on daily habits:
Nutrition
- Emphasize whole, unprocessed foods
- Increase vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and omega-3s
- Reduce sugar and refined carbohydrates
Movement
- Aim for regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes per week)
- Even walking consistently can significantly reduce inflammation 1
Weight management
- Maintaining a healthy weight helps lower inflammatory markers 1
Stress and sleep
- Chronic stress and poor sleep both increase inflammation
- Prioritizing recovery is just as important as activity
Avoid smoking
- Smoking is a major driver of systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk 1
The bottom line
Heart health is not just about cholesterol. Inflammation plays a major role in determining your long-term risk, often silently and over time.
The good news is that inflammation is highly responsive to lifestyle changes. By addressing the root causes early, you can significantly reduce your risk and improve your overall health.
A more complete approach to heart health looks beyond a single lab value and focuses on the whole picture—how your body is functioning day to day.
Sources:
- Inflammation and cardiovascular disease: 2025 ACC scientific statement: a report of the American College of Cardiology. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2025
