Inflammation, Chronic Illness, and the Heart: What’s the Connection?

Inflammation is the body’s natural defense response to injury or infection. It causes redness, warmth, swelling and sometimes pain around an injury; for example, the swelling and redness you see around a cut are signs of acute inflammation. Inflammation brings immune cells and nutrients to help heal the wound. Normally this response is short-lived (a few days) and then settles down as healing completes. Chronic inflammation, by contrast, means low-level immune activity that lasts for months or years. It often does not cause obvious symptoms, but can damage healthy tissues if it continues unchecked. In other words, acute inflammation is protective, while chronic inflammation is hidden and harmful. (Think of a slow, smouldering fire rather than a quick alarm and extinguish.)

Inflammation and Heart Health

Chronic inflammation is known to play a key role in heart and blood vessel diseases. For example, ongoing inflammation in the artery walls causes atherosclerosis; fatty plaques that build up and narrow the arteries. When artery linings are repeatedly irritated (by factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or smoking), immune signals draw in fat and immune cells. Over time this makes the artery stiff and clogged. Even worse, persistent inflammation inside a plaque can make it unstable. A plaque with inflammation can suddenly burst, causing a blood clot that blocks the artery. Blocked arteries feeding the heart cause heart attacks, and those feeding the brain cause strokes.

In short, when inflammation is constantly “turned on”, it accelerates the artery damage that underlies heart attacks and strokes. This is why experts say chronic inflammation is a culprit in heart disease. Reducing inflammation (by treating risk factors and using healthy habits) is a major goal for protecting the heart.

Chronic Illness and Persistent Inflammation

Some chronic diseases keep the immune system in a heightened state, raising that inflammation baseline. Autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or lupus make the immune system attack the body itself. People with these conditions often have high levels of immune signalling molecules (cytokines) circulating in their blood. For example, interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine that rises in RA and other autoimmune diseases. Studies show that chronically high IL-6 predicts higher risk of heart disease over time. In practical terms, a person with RA or lupus may face about twice the risk of heart attack compared to someone without these diseases, particularly if poorly controlled. Doctors recognize that conditions like RA or lupus can quietly add to heart risk (on top of traditional risk factors).

Other chronic inflammatory illnesses also raise heart risk. For example, type 2 diabetes features ongoing low-grade inflammation driven by excess blood sugar and fat tissue. Studies note that people with type 2 diabetes have roughly double the risk of cardiovascular disease (heart attacks, strokes, etc.) than people without diabetes. This increased risk is partly due to inflammatory stress on blood vessels. Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) is another example; during flare-ups the body is in an inflammatory state, and research shows IBD patients face higher rates of heart attacks and strokes during active disease. In general, any long-term health condition that keeps your immune system activated (from chronic infections, arthritis, metabolic disease or the like) can gently “fan the flames” of inflammation in the body and nudge up heart risk over years.

Sleep and Inflammation

Good quality sleep is surprisingly important for taming inflammation. During sleep your body works to balance its immune signals: it builds memory of infections and vaccines and clears away daytime stress hormones. When sleep is poor or short, this balance is disturbed. Research shows that even one night of poor sleep alters immune cells, but more importantly chronic sleep deprivation causes a low-grade inflammatory state throughout the body. In plain terms, not sleeping well is like silently stoking the body’s internal fire. People who sleep poorly tend to have higher markers like C‑reactive protein and cytokines, which are linked to diabetes and heart disease.

Improving sleep can therefore help lower baseline inflammation. Practices that may help include keeping a regular bedtime, creating a dark and comfortable bedroom, limiting caffeine in the evening, and using relaxation (deep breathing, gentle stretching) before bed. It may also help to be open with your doctor about sleep problems; managing pain, anxiety or breathing issues can all lead to better rest. Even short naps or rest breaks during the day can partially compensate if nighttime sleep is interrupted. Remember: prioritising rest is not wasting time, it’s giving your immune system the downtime it needs to reset and reduce inflammatory signals.

Stress and the Immune System

Our nervous system and immune system are tightly linked. When you feel stressed or threatened, the brain triggers the “fight-or-flight” response: adrenaline and the stress hormone cortisol flood the body. This was once a short-term lifesaver (running from a predator), but today we often stay in a low-level stress mode from chronic problems (work pressure, illness worries, pain, etc.). Chronic stress keeps adrenaline and cortisol elevated. At first, these hormones suppress some immune functions (to focus energy on escape), but over time they dysregulate immunity. In effect, chronic stress can turn some immune cells pro-inflammatory. The result is a lingering internal tension and inflammation that can harm blood vessels and heart function.

Medical experts note that too much stress is linked to higher heart attack and stroke risk. That’s not surprising as stress also raises blood pressure, blood sugar and unhealthy habits (poor diet, smoking, etc.). To manage stress, practical steps can include breathing exercises, meditation, gentle movement, or any hobby that calms you. Talking therapies or support groups can help with the emotional load. Even simple things like ensuring time outdoors or chatting with a friend can reduce perceived stress and the “fight-flight” alarm. By calming your nervous system, you make it easier for your body to settle its immune system, too.

Movement and Pacing

Gentle, regular movement is one of the most effective ways to keep inflammation in check. Exercise (even moderate activity like walking, swimming or cycling) improves circulation, lowers blood pressure and helps control body weight, all of which reduce inflammatory stress on the heart. Importantly, physical activity also causes your muscle cells to release signals that combat inflammation. For example, recent research shows exercise mobilises special immune cells (T‑regulatory cells) that dampen inflammation in muscle. In short, exercise gives your body a natural boost to fight chronic inflammation.

That said, we must balance exercise with rest. If you have a chronic illness or fatigue, do not push yourself to exhaustion. Pacing means doing what you can, breaking tasks into smaller bits, and resting before you get wiped out. Even short walks or stretching sessions spread out throughout the day can be valuable. Some days will be harder than others, and that’s okay, listening to your body is part of self-care. The goal is not to train for a marathon unless you want to, but simply to keep joints and circulation moving. Every bit of activity you can comfortably do tends to send those anti-inflammatory signals and keep your heart healthier. And importantly, know that resting when you need to is itself an anti-inflammatory action: reducing physical stress and protecting your energy reserves are real “work” on recovery and wellbeing.

Other Supports: Medicinal Cannabis

Some people consider medical cannabis as one tool in the toolbox when symptoms are very hard to manage. Cannabis contains compounds like THC and CBD that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a system that helps regulate inflammation among other functions. Laboratory and early clinical studies have found that cannabis extracts may modulate inflammatory responses. In practice, this means some patients find that suitable cannabis medicines (under a doctor’s guidance) help relieve pain, improve sleep or lower stress, which indirectly helps quiet chronic inflammation.

It is very important to use cannabis under medical supervision. Cannabis is not a guaranteed solution and can have side effects. But for people already struggling with fatigue, pain and stress, a doctor may discuss a trial of a medical cannabis product if standard options are insufficient. (In New Zealand, it must be prescribed and closely monitored.) If you choose this path, think of cannabis as one part of a broader plan: lifestyle changes, pacing, rest and emotional support remain the foundation of care, with cannabis as an adjunct rather than the sole answer.

Conclusion

The good news is that you are not powerless. Even if you live with a chronic illness, there is much you can do to keep inflammation and heart risk as low as possible. Aim for small, manageable steps. Improving sleep routines and reducing screen time before bed, learning simple stress-relief practices (like breathing or meditation), and fitting short bouts of movement into your day can all make a difference over time. Remember: resting well, pacing yourself, and seeking emotional support (from friends, family or professionals) are valid and valuable anti-inflammatory actions in their own right. You might also discuss with your doctor about heart health checks (like blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar) and how best to manage them.

Living with fatigue or pain is hard, and it’s natural to feel anxious about heart disease. But by understanding the connection and taking gentle steps forward, you can help protect your heart. Every healthy choice you make (even simply resting when you need it) sends a message to your body that it’s safe to unwind its inflammation.

References:

1. British Heart Foundation. Inflammation: what is it, and how does it affect the heart? (Dr Phoebe Kitscha, 2021). Available from: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/research/what-is-inflammation
2. Singh K.K et al. Sleep and Immune System Crosstalk: Implications for Inflammatory Homeostasis and Disease Pathogenesis. J Clin Med. 2024;13(1):1155. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11559494/
3. Alotiby A et al. Immunology of Stress: A Review Article. J Clin Med. 2024;13(21):6394. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11546738/Pesheva E. Research shows working out gets inflammation-fighting T cells moving. Harvard Gazette, Nov 3 2023. Available from: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/11/new-study-explains-how-exercise-reduces-chronic-inflammation/
4. Anil SM et al. Medical Cannabis Activity Against Inflammation: Active Compounds and Modes of Action. Front Pharmacol. 2022 May 9;13:908198. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9124761/
5. Deck K et al. Immune Dysregulation Connecting Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Complications. Front Endocrinol. 2025;16:11875. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12387400/
6. Lin J et al. The Association Between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. ACC Articles, Apr 7 2021. Available from: https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/Articles/2021/04/07/17/11/The-Association-Between-IBD-and-Atherosclerotic-CVD
7. Mayo Clinic. Chronic stress puts your health at risk. (Healthy Lifestyle, Stress management). Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037