The hottest topic in medicine these days is inflammation. This because it is now believed to be the underlying cause of diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke just to mention a few.

Being the cause of such painful conditions as arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis isn't new news, but here's something that may surprise you. A 2003 study revealed that 70 million people, that's one in three Americans, have arthritis or chronic joint symptoms. That's why I believe that understanding inflammation and learning how to keep it at bay will be one of the great public health challenges we will continue to face in the 21st century.

Red-Hot Pain Trigger

Inflammation is a key component of the body's healing response, marked by pain, swelling, warmth, and redness. It's the body's way of getting more blood and immune cells to an injured area. When inflammation is confined to where it's needed for an appropriate length of time, it's not a problem. But when it persists or becomes too intense, it can cause disabling symptoms and tissue damage.

Here's the science. The body tightly controls inflammation via substances called prostaglandins, which are synthesized from essential fatty acids. They're involved in maintaining the complex chain of chemical reactions that keep us alive and functioning. When this delicate internal ballet goes awry (as it can when your diet contains too many of the wrong fatty foods for example), prostaglandins can precipitate inflammation and even make you more susceptible to pain.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including over-the-counter aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, and the prescription drug celecoxib (Celebrex), effectively target inflammation and relieve pain. But there's a downside. They have significant side effects, especially stomach irritation. This can lead to potentially complications gastrointestinal complaints. For example, the manufacturers of the prescription NSAID drug, Vioxx, was removed from the market in September 2004 when a study linked it to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

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