Could Chronic Inflammation Be Linked to Affluent Lifestyles

 Is Chronic Inflammation Possibly Linked to Wealthier Lifestyles

Have you ever wondered why chronic inflammation is more prevalent in developed countries? According to recent research, our upbringing might hold the key. A biological anthropologist, Thom McDade, suggests that growing up in overly sanitized conditions could be throwing our immune systems off balance, leading to persistent inflammation. This insight challenges the prevailing notion that chronic inflammation is an unavoidable aspect of aging.

Inflammation is a natural response to injury or illness, signified by redness, tenderness, heat, and swelling. However, when inflammation becomes a constant companion, manifesting as joint pain, rashes, or low-grade fever, it may indicate an underlying issue. Prolonged inflammation can potentially harm the body and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Studies on chronic inflammation have predominantly focused on Western societies, where sedentary lifestyles and abundant access to high-calorie foods are common. McDade argues that this narrow focus skews scientific conclusions about chronic inflammation. His research in the Philippines and Ecuador reveals that chronic inflammation is relatively rare in populations living non-Western lifestyles, challenging the notion that it's an inevitable part of aging.

So, what contributes to the higher levels of inflammation in the West? While excess body fat has been implicated in prior research, McDade's study found no clear link between body fat and inflammation among the populations in the Philippines and Ecuador. Instead, he suggests that their upbringing in rural, less sanitized environments may be the key.

McDade hypothesizes that exposure to infectious diseases in early life effectively tunes the immune system's inflammatory responses. Children in Western societies often miss out on regular challenges to their immune systems, leading to a malfunctioning inflammatory response later in life.

According to McDade, chronic low-grade inflammation can be considered a "disease of affluence," a result of our evolved biology not aligning with modern societal conditions. This idea resonates with the well-known "hygiene hypothesis," which blames overly sanitized conditions for the increased prevalence of allergies and autoimmune disorders in developed countries.

While a proper diet and regular exercise can help alleviate inflammation, McDade suggests a more profound solution. Providing the immune system with reasonable adversity early on might be the key to preventing chronic inflammation. This doesn't mean exposing children to harmful environments, but rather encouraging a balanced exposure to everyday elements like dogs and dirt, while scaling back on excessive hand sanitizers and antibacterials. McDade's research opens up new perspectives on addressing chronic inflammation and its potential connection to our upbringing.

human body, Public Health & Epidemiology