The heart is an amazing pump that powers the body, carrying life-giving nutrients and oxygen to all the cells . One of the newest contributors to heart disease to fall into this category is inflammation, a topic that is being seriously studied by heart disease researchers. It has long been accepted that a heart attack can occur when arteries become narrow enough to block the flow of blood leading to the heart. But what causes this build up of plaque, or atherosclerosis, is less understood. Some internal process is setting the stage, and this is where inflammation appears to play a role.
Inflammation is the body's reaction to infection or injury.
It is normally a healthy, positive response that helps the body to heal. But in the case of heart disease, inflammation may be a culprit. Researchers are trying to discover exactly what might cause this inflammation in the first place. Some studies point to certain bacteria. But studies have not found that taking antibiotics will prevent heart attacks.