A new study published in the European Heart Journal found that a cheap anti-inflammatory drug cuts heart disease risk by 12%. The finding highlights something many people overlook: inflammation is a major driver of heart disease — acting like a smoldering fire inside blood vessel walls, weakening them and accelerating plaque formation. The good news is that there are many evidence-backed strategies to bring that fire under control, even without medication.
Table of Contents
The New Study
The research focuses on a specific population: those diagnosed with heart disease caused by the build-up of plaque in their arteries — a condition called atherosclerosis. When someone has atherosclerosis, they are at significant risk for heart attacks and strokes. Globally, these are the first and fifth leading causes of death [1].
Identifying ways to reduce risk for people diagnosed with atherosclerosis is an urgent clinical priority. One option that has caught the attention of researchers is a cheap anti-inflammatory called colchicine.
Colchicine has a remarkable history. It occurs naturally in the plant autumn crocus, which was used by ancient Egyptians as a remedy for joint pain [2].
Today, colchicine is mainly used to treat gout, which causes painful joint swelling. But researchers noticed something unexpected: people taking colchicine for their gout were also experiencing other health benefits — including cardiovascular ones.
In a study published in 2012, researchers combed through patient records within a healthcare system in New York. They identified patients who had filled a prescription for colchicine to treat gout. Those patients turned out to have less than half as many heart attacks as those not taking the medication [3].
This was an intriguing finding. It gave researchers a new question: could colchicine be used to drive down the risks of heart attacks and strokes in a broader population?
Scientists began to test colchicine in randomised, controlled trials. Initial results were promising. A meta-analysis published in 2024 pulled together findings from 6 trials involving about 15,000 people. Those who took colchicine lowered their stroke risk by 27%, and the risk for major heart-related events dropped by the same amount [4].
However, since that analysis, results from two fresh trials — the largest done to date — have introduced some uncertainty.
One trial found no benefit with colchicine after 3 years in 7,000 patients who had experienced a heart attack [5]. The other tested over 8,000 patients who had suffered a stroke. After a 3-month follow-up, treatment made no difference to the frequency of additional strokes [6].
The authors of the new study therefore set out to re-examine all available evidence to resolve this discrepancy. Their analysis included a total of 9 trials involving almost 31,000 people with heart disease or a history of stroke [7].
The overall results were less dramatic than the earlier meta-analysis, but still clearly favoured colchicine. Those taking the medication saw a 12% reduced risk of heart attacks, strokes, or death from heart disease [7].
That is why current clinical guidelines recommend adding colchicine to the treatment regimen for people with established heart disease [8].
Inflammation and Heart Disease
This is good news for those already diagnosed with heart disease. But the implications of this research extend to everyone.
High levels of inflammation in the blood vessels is like pouring gasoline on a fire. It accelerates the process of plaque building up inside arteries.
Artery walls start out smooth in youth. But over time, the inner lining of an artery can be damaged — by high blood pressure, smoking, or other factors. A healing process kicks in, but the repair does not always restore the vessel to its original state.
Fats and other substances in the blood can stick to these damaged areas. Material gradually accumulates into thick deposits of plaque. As plaques grow, they narrow the artery and restrict blood flow — in the same way that pipes can become narrowed over time.
The greatest danger arises when plaques rupture. This can trigger the formation of a blood clot capable of blocking an artery completely. If this occurs in an artery supplying the heart, it causes a heart attack. If it occurs in an artery supplying the brain, it causes a stroke.
One of the most important drivers of this process is LDL cholesterol.
LDL particles carry cholesterol and can move in and out of blood vessel walls. When LDL concentrations are too high, LDL becomes trapped in the arterial wall, leading to plaque development and progressive blockages.
Data from the PESA study show that even when blood pressure, body weight, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation are all normal, plaque still develops when LDL cholesterol is above 50–60 mg/dL — and the severity increases as LDL rises further [9].
A recent study on "lean-mass hyper-responders" — highly fit individuals with unusually elevated LDL — demonstrated extremely rapid plaque progression despite their fitness levels [10].
LDL cholesterol is therefore a critical target. But inflammation plays an equally important role. Chronically elevated inflammation makes LDL cholesterol and other components more likely to adhere to artery walls — which in turn drives more inflammation, creating a vicious cycle that further accelerates plaque formation.
The evidence suggests that getting inflammation under control is a powerful strategy for reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. While colchicine may be an appropriate option for some individuals, there are also several well-supported lifestyle approaches to lowering inflammation naturally.
Natural Ways to Lower Inflammation
1. Lose excess weight
Excess body fat stimulates the production of inflammatory chemicals [11]. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight reduces this pro-inflammatory burden.
2. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet
Getting diet right goes beyond reducing calorie intake. Certain foods increase inflammation — including refined starches, sugar, saturated fats, and trans fats [12].
A study of nurses found that those eating a "Western" diet — high in red and processed meats, sweets, fries, and refined grains — had significantly higher markers of inflammation [13].
By contrast, other foods actively support lower inflammation: fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats (such as extra-virgin olive oil), and proteins from legumes and fish are all associated with reduced inflammatory markers.
3. Exercise wisely
In the short term, vigorous exercise is pro-inflammatory due to the micro-damage it causes in muscle tissue. But over time, with adequate rest and appropriate intensity, regular physical activity reduces chronic systemic inflammation [14].
4. Prioritise sleep
Getting too little sleep increases systemic inflammation and impairs the body's ability to regulate it [15]. Prioritising consistent, restorative sleep is one of the most underrated strategies for cardiovascular health.
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5. Manage stress
Stress has been linked to 75–90% of human diseases, in large part through its ability to trigger and sustain inflammation [16]. Evidence-based tools such as mindfulness, meditation, and controlled breathing exercises can reduce the physiological stress response and its downstream inflammatory effects.
6. Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol
Both smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are major contributors to systemic inflammation and elevated cardiovascular risk. Eliminating smoking and moderating alcohol intake are among the highest-impact modifiable choices for long-term heart health.
Reference List
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507799/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5812812/
- https://www.jrheum.org/content/39/7/1458
- https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(24)00414-0/fulltext
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2405922
- https://www.bmj.com/content/385/bmj-2023-079061
- https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf210/8123896
- https://www.uptodate.com/contents/prevention-of-cardiovascular-disease-events-in-those-with-established-disease-secondary-prevention
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109721051159
- https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.101686
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8967417/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2868080/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916522036425
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2019.01550/full
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11818-025-00495-6
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5476783/
