Silent inflammation could be damaging your body — and 5 habits may help keep it in check

Inflammation is a natural immune response that helps protect the body from injury and infection, but when it becomes chronic, it can pose a health threat, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Over time, chronic inflammation can contribute to rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular disease .

Keeping the condition in check can help protect healthy tissues and support overall health , experts say.

POPULAR WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS MAY HELP PROTECT AGAINST A DEADLY DISEASE, DOCTOR SAYS Jim LaValle, a clinical pharmacist and metabolic medicine expert based in Texas, told Fox News Digital that inflammation can be influenced by a variety of factors beyond injury or infection.

LaValle first pointed to the gut-immune-brain connection — the communication between gut microbes, the immune system and the central nervous system — as one pathway that can influence the body's inflammatory response.

Beyond gut health, he said several everyday lifestyle factors can play a role in preventing chronic inflammation.

DOCTORS SAY 8 FORGOTTEN HABITS COULD HELP FIGHT STRESS, OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE Managing stress and anxiety can help support the gut-brain connection and keep inflammation in check, according to LaValle.

He pointed to cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress, which he said can "wreak havoc on your chemistry" when levels remain elevated.

Chronic stress can also affect the intestinal barrier, potentially allowing substances that would normally remain inside the gut to pass through more easily, LaValle said.

This increased intestinal permeability is sometimes called "leaky gut." ZERO SUGAR, MORE PROBLEMS? STUDY REVEALS SURPRISING GUT HEALTH EFFECTS "So, it turns out that if I'm stressed out a lot, I can be more prone to irritable bowel ," LaValle said, as stress can trigger or worsen digestive symptoms in some people.

Diets high in sugar, fat and ultraprocessed foods can also affect gut health.

Paying attention to which foods trigger certain symptoms may help identify potential food sensitivities or intolerances, LaValle noted.

Symptoms such as bloating, rashes or discomfort after eating certain foods may signal a food-related reaction, although they can have other causes.

Certain medications, including antibiotics, may also alter the gut microbiome, but their effects vary depending on the drug and the individual, the expert said.