Medical News Today writes that inflammation is the body’s attempt at self-protection. When there is something harmful or irritating that affects a part of our body, there is a biological response of inflammation which is aimed at trying to remove it. The signs and symptoms of inflammation, and specifically acute inflammation, show that the body is trying to heal itself. In a news release, Ohio University has reported, Dwelling on stressful events can increase inflammation in the body, study finds.
A new Ohio University study has found that dwelling on negative events can increase levels of inflammation in the body. When study participants were asked to ruminate on a stressful incident, their levels of C-reactive protein, which is a marker of tissue inflammation, rose, according to researchers. This was the first study to directly measure this effect in the body. Peggy Zoccola, an assistant professor of psychology at Ohio University, has said, “Much of the past work has looked at this in non-experimental designs. Researchers have asked people to report their tendency to ruminate, and then looked to see if it connected to physiological issues. It’s been correlational for the most part.”
The C-reactive protein is primarily produced by the liver as a part of the immune system’s
initial inflammatory response. C-reactive protein rises in response to traumas, injuries or infections in the body. Zoccola said, “More and more, chronic inflammation is being associated with various disorders and conditions. The immune system plays an important role in various cardiovascular disorders such as heart disease, as well as cancer, dementia and autoimmune diseases.”
