Chronic vs acute inflammation: What’s the difference?

[0:00]Inflammation is your immune system response to injury or illness. It's like a smoke alarm. It goes off in case of an emergency. Also, like a smoke alarm, sometimes it goes off when there's no real danger. I'm Dr. Renee Roberts, a primary care doctor at Oak Street Health. Acute inflammation is a good thing. It helps your body heal when you're sick or injured. Chronic inflammation is different. It sticks around even when there's no real problem. And over time it can lead to heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and memory problems. So things like poor sleep, stress, and ultra processed foods can cause chronic inflammation. The good news is, your provider can check inflammation with a simple blood test. And small changes like moving more and eating better can help lower inflammation as well. At Oak Street Health, we focus on helping older adults stay healthy. To learn more, visit OakStreetHealth.com.