CV Inflammation
What Is Cardiovascular Inflammation?
It’s your body’s immune response to stress in the heart and blood vessels — and it’s a silent driver of heart attacks and strokes.
Even if your cholesterol is under control, CV inflammation can quietly damage your arteries.
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What’s Really Happening in Your Arteries
CV inflammation is your body’s immune response to stress or damage in your blood vessels. When it becomes chronic, it triggers a harmful cycle: immune cells build up in the artery walls, forming plaques. These plaques can rupture — leading to clots, heart attacks, or strokes.
Healthy artery
Inflamed artery wall
Plaque buildup
Rupture
Clot → Heart attack/ stroke
Inflammation causes plaques to build, rupture, and trigger clots — leading to heart attacks or strokes.
Could It Be Affecting You?
Who's most at risk
CV inflammation is more likely if you’ve experienced any of the following:
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A heart attack or stroke
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​Family history of cardiovascular disease
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High blood pressure
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Type 2 diabetes
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A stent or bypass
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Excess belly fat or metabolic syndrome
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Chronic stress, poor sleep, or smoking history
Even if you’re taking statins or managing cholesterol, you may still have inflammation. In fact, 47% of people on statins still show signs of inflammation.
Why It Matters — and What You Can Do
Inflammation isn’t just a symptom — it’s a cause. It silently contributes to plaque buildup and artery damage, even in people with normal cholesterol levels.
That’s why many doctors today consider lowering inflammation just as important as managing cholesterol.
The good news? Inflammation can be measured, monitored, and treated — giving you a chance to take control of your cardiovascular risk.
