Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
Since inflammation is linked to heart attacks, should you be concerned that hard exercise may cause inflammation?
Anything that damages tissue can cause inflammation,
such as smoking, high cholesterol or hypertension. When a
germ gets into your body, your immunity produces proteins called
antibodies, white blood cells and cytokines that kill germs.
However, as soon as the germ is gone, your immunity is
supposed to shut down. If it doesn’t shut down, these same
factors attack and destroy your body tissues; this is called
inflammation. Inflammation increases risk for heart attacks,
strokes, certain cancers, and diabetes and even worsens
diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma.
Many scientists have expressed concern that hard
exercise damages muscles, so it may turn on inflammation and
harm you. However, a study from Verona, Italy shows that hard
exercise does not cause inflammation (Journal of the Canadian
Medical Association, October 25, 2005). It measured C reactive
protein, a blood test that indicates inflammation, and showed that
there was no difference in levels in sedentary people, those who
cycle for fitness, competitive professional bicycle racers and
international-class cross country skiers. So muscle damage from
hard exercise does not increase inflammation.
More on inflammation
January 15, 2007