Health Scientist Warns Chronic Inflammation
Table of Contents
:format(jpeg):background_color(fff)/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metronieuws.nl%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F03%2FLen-De-Nys-gezondheidswetenschapper-chronische-ontsteking-ziekten.png "Health Scientist Warns Chronic Inflammation")
Dr. Len de Nys, a 34-year-old Belgian health scientist and physiotherapist, faced chronic back pain early in life. His exploration into the science of chronic inflammation led him to adjust his lifestyle, ultimately alleviating his pain. He authored “Where there is smoke is fire,” a book addressing vague health complaints, positing that chronic inflammation is a notable, frequently enough overlooked factor in numerous modern health issues.
According to de Nys, chronic inflammation contributes to the deaths of three out of five people, playing a role in conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, and diabetes. This aligns with observations made by general practitioner Staff Hendrickx, who noted a connection between these diseases and ultra-processed foods.
Chronic Back Pain in Early Adulthood
De Nys, a former top-level volleyball and beach volleyball player, developed a keen interest in the human body and healthy living. In his early twenties, he experienced chronic back pain. “doctors suggested cortisone injections, and if that didn’t work, learning to live with it,” de Nys said. “Being so young, I questioned whether that was my fate.”
Though, de Nys discovered that his back pain wasn’t due to muscle, joint, or bone issues. “It was something else entirely. I delved into the research and experimented with my lifestyle, finding that an anti-inflammatory approach helped,” he explained. “looking back ten years later, I realized I had been living an inflammatory lifestyle.”
de Nys is careful not to criticize conventional medical doctors. “Doctors are trained to address symptoms, and there’s increasing attention on underlying causes,” he stated. “They provide crucial acute relief. However, a complex, holistic approach is sometimes necessary to identify the root cause, which requires time – something a general practitioner ofen lacks with limited appointment slots.”
Understanding Chronic Inflammation
The concept of chronic inflammation can be abstract. De Nys clarifies, “We’re more familiar with acute inflammation, like a wound that swells, reddens, and impairs function, healing within three weeks. Even a splinter causes inflammation as part of the healing process.” He likens acute inflammation to a contained campfire. “fever, for instance, is beneficial, allowing the ‘fire’ to burn out safely.”
Chronic inflammation, however, is when this “fire” burns excessively. “It affects everything,but the fire alarm doesn’t sound,” de Nys explains.”This leads to vague, slowly developing symptoms, eventually affecting tissue and blood vessels.”
Signals of Chronic Inflammation
De Nys identifies several signals that may indicate underlying chronic inflammation:
- Mood swings, brain fog, concentration problems, or depressive episodes
- Fatigue and lack of energy, even after sufficient sleep
- Muscle and joint pain, particularly if vague and not linked to a specific joint or muscle
- Digestive issues, such as frequent bowel movements
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Acne and eczema
these observations echo concerns raised by fertility doctor and hormone therapist Kimiko Kleiman, who advocates for women to take cycle and hormone-related complaints more seriously.
Immune System on High Alert
de Nys explains how chronic inflammation contributes to various diseases. “In cardiovascular disease, inflammation plays a role in plaque formation.In cancer, it damages DNA, and in Alzheimer’s disease, it affects the brain.”
A healthy immune system is crucial for preventing chronic inflammation. “The immune system is the body’s defense mechanism, quickly responding to and eliminating threats,” de Nys says. Though, in chronic inflammation, the body fights something that isn’t necessarily there. “The body remains chronically alert, often due to chronic stress, sleep deprivation, or lack of exercise, keeping the immune system in a constant state of high alert and leading to chronic inflammation.”
The Importance of Gum Health
De Nys emphasizes the importance of addressing gum disease. “Occasional bleeding gums aren’t necessarily indicative of chronic inflammation, but chronically inflamed gums can have consequences related to lifestyle habits.Our intestinal health starts in the mouth.”
# Chronic Inflammation: A Hidden Culprit in Modern Diseases? – Q&A
## What is Chronic Inflammation?
Chronic inflammation is a long-term inflammatory response in the body. Unlike acute inflammation, which is a short-term response to injury or infection, chronic inflammation persists, often without noticeable symptoms.
Dr. Len De Nys, a health scientist and physiotherapist, explains that we’re more familiar with acute inflammation, such as a wound that swells and heals within three weeks.He likens acute inflammation to a contained campfire. Fever, for example, is beneficial. Chronic inflammation, tho, is when this “fire” burns excessively and goes unnoticed, eventually affecting tissues and blood vessels.
## What’s the Difference Between Acute and Chronic Inflammation?
| Feature | Acute Inflammation | Chronic Inflammation |
|—————–|——————————————-|——————————————————-|
| Duration | Short-term (days or weeks) | Long-term (months or years) |
| Symptoms | Often noticeable (pain, swelling, redness) | Often vague or subtle; may have no obvious symptoms |
| cause | Injury, infection | Persistent irritants, immune system dysregulation |
| Healing Process | Complete healing expected | Ongoing damage and tissue changes |
| Analogy | Contained campfire | Excessive and undetected “fire” burning in the body |
## What are the Potential Causes of Chronic Inflammation?
The article doesn’t explicitly list causes, chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and lack of exercise are mentioned as contributors to a chronically alert immune system, which can lead to chronic inflammation. The article also references ultra-processed foods, potentially, through commentary from another expert, Staff Hendrickx, who observes the connection and potential link between this food type and this condition.
## what Diseases are Linked to Chronic Inflammation?
According to Dr. De Nys,chronic inflammation plays a role in:
* Cardiovascular disease
* Cancer
* Obesity
* Diabetes
Dr. De Nys also notes that in cardiovascular disease, inflammation plays a role in plaque formation; in cancer, it damages DNA; and in Alzheimer’s disease, it affects the brain.