Medical researchers say we should pay closer attention to the chronic inflammation that can build as we age. It’s called “Inflammaging” and it’s a combination of inflammation and aging. The condition is a form of inflammation that is chronic and low-grade, but builds stealthily as you age.
Inflammaging is associated with an increased risk of bone loss, heart attack, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other conditions. Inflammation alone isn’t all bad. It is the body’s natural way of protecting itself from harm. It can be helpful in fighting off a viral infection like Covid, or in healing a cut on the finger. It normally subsides once the healing is done. But, if it doesn’t subside, it can cause harm and sometimes that happens more and more with aging.
So, what are the best ways to ward off inflammaging? All the things you should be doing anyway will help: exercising consistently, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and eating healthfully. Anti-inflammatory medications may also help.
Aging is something we cannot avoid. And, more inflammation will happen as we age. There is no avoiding either, however, inflammaging can be minimized by growing older healthfully.
Excerpted from The Wall Street Journal article, Oct.7, 2024, https://apple.news/ALthtF8QKR4qXjRo4SFUZlQ
