Plaque is the body's safety net.
Research shows the body builds plaques to trap harmful substances and protect itself. Stopping this natural process might cause long-term problems instead of helping.
Plaque sounds bad, but it's protective.
When the immune system finds something it can't destroy - sticky fats, old proteins, pathogens - it builds a wall around it. This wall keeps harmful stuff from spreading and gives the body time to clean up.
The Body's Containment Strategy
- Foam cells and neutrophils seal off danger
- Collagen and calcium create structural barriers
- Same pattern appears in Alzheimer's plaques and arterial buildup
- These aren't just "junk piles" - they're safety barriers
Inflammation Is the Fire Department
When damage happens, inflammation clears dead cells, builds new tissue, and activates clean-up crews. The body uses omega-3s to wrap things up smoothly. Blocking this process may stop healing from happening at all.
Meta-analyses reveal higher heart risks.
Increased coronary artery disease risk overall
Increased myocarditis risk after second dose
The problem with short studies: Most studies only last around 19 months. That's not enough time to see how blocking the body's clean-up systems affects someone years later. If inflammation is shut down, the body can't remove damaged cells or fix artery walls.
Some scientists say the idea is backwards.
Cholesterol protects us by trapping toxins
Inflammation is how the body repairs itself
Trying to stop inflammation could be what's making us sick
Historical evidence: Nutrients like vitamin C can reverse plaque buildup. Mild inflammation might actually help us live longer by strengthening repair systems.
How suppression may cause problems.
Macrophage Switching Blocked
Macrophages - the body's main clean-up crew - may get stuck in "attack mode" and never switch to "repair mode." This means plaques and damage build up instead of getting cleared away.
Healing Mode Disrupted
Some interventions change how the immune system reacts. They can lower important inflammation signals and keep the body from switching to healing mode.
Similar Patterns with NSAIDs
Other drugs like NSAIDs have shown similar results - short-term relief, long-term damage. The pattern suggests caution with any approach that blocks natural inflammatory processes.
Work with the body, not against it.
The body evolved to build plaques for a reason: to contain damage and keep us safe. Future research should focus on supporting healthy inflammation, promoting proper healing, and respecting the immune system's design.