As part of our immune system, it’s one of the most basic human processes. We can easily recognize its telltale signs—redness, heat, pain, and swelling—every time we get a bump, bruise, or rash. Yet the role of inflammation isn’t just skin-deep. In fact, as revealed in this eye-opening book, discovering inflammation’s function is a far-reaching, giant leap forward in our understanding of disease prevention and treatment.While inflammation is your first line of defense against bacteria and viruses, long-term or severe inflammation can cause serious health problems. Both the New York Times and CNN have recently reported that inflammation is the common thread in heart disease and other major illnesses, as well as a host of diseases related to aging, including arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, and some forms of cancer. It’s now suggested that the key to good health may lie in finding the right balance between the body’s intricate pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory forces.Not long ago, most inflammation research was tied to particular medical specialties such as rheumatology or cardiology. When pioneering doctors began to look beyond the narrow confines of specialization, they made the “inflammation connection.”It was discovered that rather than being disease-specific, inflammation is an underlying factor in many diseases previously thought to be unrelated.The Inflammation Cure is at the forefront of this bold new movement in inflammation research. In clear, everyday language, William Meggs, M.D., originator of the inflammation-related theory of neurogenic switching, explains what causes inflammation, its critical relationship to disease in the body, and—most importantly—what steps you can take right now to minimize your inflammation risk.The Inflammation Cure:Defines inflammation and how it works to protect or harm the bodyFeatures an Inflammation Risk Quiz designed to assess your personal risk factorsUncovers how inflammatory processes contribute to the big killers—heart disease, stroke, and diabetes—and how these same processes might put you at risk for other inflammation-related disordersExplains why inflammation and aging are so interconnectedHelps you manage your body’s inflammation responses through exercise, diet, lifestyle changes, medical tests, and new anti-inflammatory foods and medicationsInflammation affects us all—especially today, when our nation is grappling with the healthcare implications of an aging population added to an explosion of inflammation-related health problems such as obesity and asthma. The simple truth is: the more we understand the link between inflammation and our health, the closer we come to effectively treating, and possibly eradicating, some of the most deadly diseases ever known. Shouldn’t inflammation control be a major part of your overall personal health plan? Let The Inflammation Cure be your guide.Know the Facts. Know Your Risk. Make the Inflammation Connection.Think of the last time you got a scrape or cut. The swelling and redness that resulted is inflammation in action, protecting us from serious infections and healing our injuries.But inflammation processes can and do malfunction. Just as inflammation destroys germs, uncontrolled inflammation can, over time, destroy the organs of our own bodies. The pivotal role of inflammation in heart disease, as well as diseases tied to aging such as Alzheimer’s and arthritis, has been little understood. Until now.