Chronic inflammation is a driver of almost every major disease of aging and even the aging process itself. Because inflammation is so closely intertwined with aging and age-related diseases, the term inflammaging has become accepted by many scientists.
The word inflammation comes from the Latin inflammo which means “ignite” or “set alight.” It is a complex metabolic response of the body to harmful stimuli such as pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi), damaged cells, or irritants. There are two types of inflammation: Acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term).
Acute inflammation is short-lived and is a crucial and beneficial metabolic response to harmful stimuli. Without it, wounds would not heal and infections would not be fought. Acute inflammation limits the spread of pathogens and toxins and their damage to nearby tissue. It then helps to remove the damaged tissue, pathogens, and toxins from the body. Acute inflammation assists the body’s repair processes. It is localized and temporary and characterized by redness, warmth, pain, and swelling. Examples include a mosquito bite, laceration, or bump on the head.
Chronic inflammation is a metabolic response to persistent cellular stress and dysfunction. It is silent, low-grade, systemic (body-wide), ongoing, and destructive. Rather than benefiting our health, it harms it by contributing to degenerative disease and loss of youthful functions. Chronic inflammation is a major factor in the development of the following diseases:
- Obesity
- Metabolic syndrome
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Depression
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Macular degeneration
- Cancer
- Kidney disease
- Chronic infections
- Autoimmune disorders
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
Once triggered, chronic inflammation can quietly persist for decades, causing cellular death throughout the entire body. Without proper diagnostic testing, it may be threatening your health at this very moment without you realizing it!
Common causes of chronic inflammation include the following:
- Advancing age
- Overweight and obesity
- Poor diet: Sugar, saturated fat, trans-fats, excess carbohydrates, and overeating (even when not overweight or obese)
- Low hormones: Estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone
- Toxins: Smoking, heavy metals, chemicals
- Allergies: Food and environmental
- Stress
- Infections (e.g., Epstein-Barr virus, Lyme disease, candida)
- Lack of sleep
- Lack of exercise
Diagnosing chronic inflammation is easy if your doctor knows what blood tests to order. The following inflammation biomarkers can be obtained from any well-known lab, such as Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp:
- High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP): Optimal level is <0.5 mg/L
- Homocysteine: Optimal level is <6.3 μmol/L
- Fibrinogen: Optimal level is <285 mg/dL
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6): Optimal level is <10 pg/mL
- Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α): Optimal level is <1 pg/mL
The following drugs have been used to lower inflammatory biomarkers:
- Pentoxifylline (Pentoxil, Trental)
- Metformin (Glucophage)
- Low-dose aspirin
- Statin drugs (e.g., Lipitor, Crestor)
The following natural treatments can lower inflammatory biomarkers:
- Low-glycemic, nutrient-dense, fiber-rich diet
- Avoid saturated fat, trans-fats, and overeating
- Weight loss
- Exercise
- Sleep
- Adequate hydration
- Smoking cessation
- Hormone therapy
- Intravenous nutrition
The following nutritional supplements have been found to lower inflammatory biomarkers:
- Benfotiamine
- Black tea extract
- Boswellia extract
- Bromelain
- CoQ10
- Curcumin
- DHEA
- Green coffee extract
- Green tea extract
- L-Carnosine
- Magnesium
- N-Acetylcysteine
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Pterostilbene
- Pyrroloquinoline quinone
- Quercetin
- Resveratrol
- Selenium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Zinc
Comments: Unfortunately, modern medicine focuses on treating symptoms and not addressing the root cause. If your primary-care doctor is not checking you for chronic inflammation, insist that they do. If they are too unfamiliar, or unable or unwilling to help you, it is time to find another doctor.
