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Chances are you’ve scraped your knee, bumped a body part or received a vaccine and felt some pain, swelling and maybe even a little heat in the area where it occurred. These symptoms are a

result of inflammation, which is the body’s reaction to an injury or a foreign invader.  Despite the unpleasant side effects, this short-term response is healthy; it’s part of the body’s

healing process. But when inflammation lingers and simmers in the absence of invaders or injuries, it can hold the body hostage and fuel a host of health issues. What’s known as chronic

inflammation has been linked to several diseases, including cancer, heart disease, lung disease, gastrointestinal disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease. Unlike with

acute inflammation, you may be totally unaware of chronic inflammation; its symptoms can be subtler or easy to blame on other ailments. Fatigue, weight gain, gastrointestinal problems, mouth

sores, joint pain, anxiety and depression can all be warning signs of chronic inflammation. So can skin rashes, acid reflux and frequent infections. The good news: There are some things you

can do and a few triggers you can avoid to help lower your risk for chronic inflammation. Here are seven inflammation triggers.  1. SMOKING "Smoking is the biggest risk factor for

inflammation," says Saraswathi Lakkasani, M.D., a gastroenterologist in Richmond, Virginia, who sees a lot of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel disease and colon

cancer, all of which have ties to chronic inflammation. Studies have shown smoking activates certain white blood cells that can increase inflammation, and it boosts the amount of

pro-inflammatory bacteria in the gut. In the lungs, smoking damages the cells that line and protect the airway, leaving an individual more vulnerable to infections. “So it’s very hard for

the body to continue its healing process if the patient is smoking,” Lakkasani says. If you smoke and want to quit, talk to your doctor. There are prescription and over-the-counter

medications that may be able to help, as well as free resources and programs. 2. POLLUTION Research has linked pollutants that circulate in our outdoor air — like fine particulate matter —

with increased inflammation. These irritants can cause both short-term inflammation and, if exposure is continuous over time, chronic inflammation. Take, for example, silica dust — found in

materials like sand, stone and concrete. More than 2 million people are exposed to this irritant at work, and when inhaled over a long period of time, it has been linked to chronic

inflammation.  It’s not just outdoor air that poses a threat. Inside, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and gas ranges can worsen air quality, says Courtney Blair, M.D., an allergist and

immunologist in McLean, Virginia.