When an infection occurs, immune cells flock to the area and secrete large amounts of highly reactive chemicals to combat the invader. But, these inflammatory chemicals also attack normal tissue surrounding the infection and damage critical components of cells, including DNA. During chronic inflammation, DNA damage may lead to mutations or cell death and even to cancer and other diseases. Thus this chronic, and "systemic inflammation," is presently being linked to almost everything from heart disease and diabetes to Alzheimer’s and arthritis, and may even be the cause of many other chronic diseases. Nobody knows whether this inflammation is.
