The Inflammation Cure: How to Combat the Hidden Factor Behind Heart Disease, Arthritis, Asthma, Diabetes, Alzheimers Disease, Osteoporosis, and Other Diseases of Aging - Hardcover

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

William Joel Meggs, M.D., Ph.D. is professor and chief of the division of toxicology at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. He is one of the engineers of the theory of neurogenic switching, which is related to the study of inflammation. He lives in Greenville, North Carolina.

Carol Svec is a researcher and award-winning health writer who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Von der hinteren Coverseite

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 body
• Features an Inflammation Risk Quiz designed to assess your personal risk factors
• Uncovers 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 disorders
• Explains why inflammation and aging are so interconnected
• Helps you manage your body's inflammation responses through exercise, diet, lifestyle changes, medical tests, and new anti-inflammatory foods and medications

Inflammation 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.

The Inflammation Cure opens a window on what is arguably the most dynamic concept in disease prevention and treatment today. As research continues, the link between inflammation and seemingly unrelated health problems--touching on all areas of medicine--gets stronger and more compelling. In a clear, easy-to-understand tone, William Meggs, M.D., and Carol Svec help you guard against the life-threatening dangers of severe or long-term inflammation.

This much-needed, comprehensive guide reviews:

• The inflammation connection and its impact on your health and aging
• The physiological factors that trigger inflammation
• The link between inflammation and fatigue, obesity, depression, and insomnia
• A lifestyle, diet, and medication program that lowers your risk and promotes wellness
• And much more

A more complete understanding of inflammation ushers in an era of great possibilities--a revolutionary era when treating diseases such as asthma and diabetes will be akin to treating the common cold. Today, you can take the first step toward controlling your inflammation risk and assuring life-long health by discovering the power of The Inflammation Cure.