Tag Archives: Chronic inflammation

Mechanisms of Inflammation in Aging

December 30, 2014

Mechanisms of Inflammation in Aging – The redox stress hypothesis

Mechanisms of Inflammation in Aging

Mechanisms of Inflammation in Aging. Numerous complex inter-related mechanisms contribute to age-related inflammation. The redox stress hypothesis of aging is based on age-related changes in cellular redox balance.

We have just introduced the effects of inflammation in aging in our pervious article and now we want to progress with the discussion focusing on the mechanisms of inflammation in aging. If you are joining us for the first time in this life changing site, I would recommend that you get to the introduction for a better flow of information on this worthy topic. Numerous complex inter-related mechanisms contribute to age-related inflammation. The redox stress hypothesis of aging for example is based on age-related changes in cellular redox balance supplemented by age-related deregulation of the immune system. However other processes like endocrino-senescence and declining levels of sex hormones also likely contribute to high inflammation in older age. In addition, a number of diseases, especially age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis and dementia, have strong inflammatory components. Meanwhile in view of the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care, the following are some of the components that are likely to affect your skin into premature aging.

  • Redox stress
  • Mitochondrial damage
  • Immunosenescence
  • Endocrino-senescence
  • Epigenetic modifications and
  • Age-related diseases

With the help of experienced experts at this facility founded by doctor Akoury, we will make certain emphasis about each of the above mechanisms of inflammation in aging as follows.

Mechanisms of Inflammation in Aging – The Redox stress

Endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) are hypothesized which play a key role in molecular, cellular, and structural damage of your skin over time. Under normal physiological conditions, reactive oxygen species like hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) have vital roles in signal transduction cascades and function to reversibly oxidize or reduce protein cysteine thiol groups as molecular on/off switches. However, age-associated increases in reactive oxygen species may lead to over-oxidation and irreversible changes in protein structure and function. The biological process to remove these accumulated damaged proteins stimulates inflammatory responses leading to a chronic inflammatory state.

Mechanisms of Inflammation in Aging – The Mitochondrial damage

Mitochondria, the primary sites for chemical energy (ATP) production, are essential for normal cell function and maintenance of redox homeostasis as well as regulating programmed cell death. Mitochondria are the main source for reactive oxygen species therefore; they are key components in redox stress. The mitochondrial free radical theory of aging is based on oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) due to overproduction of reactive oxygen species. This damage results in dysregulation of cell and organ function leading to the overall system decline recognized as aging. mtDNA alterations have been reported to accumulate with age; the ensuing loss of energy production likely underlies sarcopenia. Other tissues affected by age-related mtDNA alterations include ovary, testis, and adrenal organs with noted loss of function with age. In addition, apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a highly regulated process that leads to cell death without stimulation of the inflammation response and damage to surrounding tissue. With age, mismanagement of apoptosis due to mitochondrial dysfunction results in increased inflammation and tissue injury.

Mechanisms of Inflammation in Aging – Immunosenescence

Oxidative stress and energy dysregulation are also hypothesized to play a key role in immunosenescence, the gradual decline of the immune system with age. Immunosenescence results from the accumulation of molecular and cellular defects due to oxidative damage and thymic involution the age-related reduction in thymus size and activity, and hyper stimulation of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. The ultimate result of these processes is increased exposure to diseases and increased morbidity and mortality due to infections and other age-associated diseases.

Thymic involution results in significantly reduced levels of naive T cells at older ages. While the adaptive immune response to previously seen antigens dependent on memory T cells remains functional, although in a reduced capacity, the ability to respond to new infectious agents, requiring naive T cells, is severely impaired. Poor immune function combined with continued exposure to antigens, results in chronic activation of macrophages and other pro-inflammatory cells and contributes to chronic low level inflammation common in older age. In addition, senescent cells demonstrate significant increases in production and secretion of many pro-inflammatory cytokines. Chronic inflammation, therefore, not only results from, but also drives immunosenescence.

Mechanisms of Inflammation in Aging – Endocrino-senescence

In addition to immunosenescence, the endocrine system also experiences age-related declines in function (endocrinosenescence) most notably affecting sex steroid production. Levels of growth hormone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its primary circulating form dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) decrease with age as well. However, cortisol production is increased due to over-stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

Chronic over-stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis leads to immune dysregulation and contributes to immunosenescence. Decreased levels of DHEA and growth hormone also likely play a role in immunosenescence. Both DHEA and growth hormone enhance the proliferation and activity of cellular mediators of immunity and DHEA reduces inflammatory cytokine production. Reduction in levels of these hormones and increasing levels of cortisol with age would therefore lead to increased.

Sex hormones also modulate the production of inflammatory cytokines. Studies indicate that interleukin-6 gene transcription and secretion are inhibited by both estrogen and androgen. Many studies show an increase in interleukin-6 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines in women subsequent to menopause. Similar inverse relationships have been reported for testosterone levels and inflammatory markers in older men. As levels of these steroid hormones decrease with age, levels of inflammatory cytokines are increased contributing to chronic inflammation, cellular senescence, and other age-related diseases.

Mechanisms of Inflammation in Aging – Epigenetic modifications

Epigenetic modifications are modifications to phenotypes or gene expression resulting from changes other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence. These changes may be retained by the cell throughout its lifespan and, for germ line cells, may be passed to future generations. DNA methylation is one of the most well characterized epigenetic changes.

DNA methylation is essential for normal development and survival. During aging, however, the DNA methylation pattern can change resulting in a global decrease in methylation with hyper methylation of some promoter regions, most notably promoters of several tumor repressor genes. Histone modifications lead to both gene activation and suppression. Histone modifications and changes in DNA methylation near telomeric regions correlate with telomere attrition and cellular senescence. In addition, these epigenetic changes are associated not only with activation of inflammatory genes, but also with cancer, dementia, atherosclerosis, and a number of other diseases.

Finally this article is very fertile with strong medical terms which may not sound clear to the ordinary man’s understanding. While appreciating the need for more clear view of the effects of mechanisms of inflammation in aging, the writings still had to be the way they are. However in a one on one with doctor Akoury in her office, you will be able to get clarity in all of your concerns. Remember that our target is to deliver beauty to you in the most professional way. Therefore on your part, what you need to do is to schedule for an appointment with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care and all your beauty concerns will be professionally addressed.

Mechanisms of Inflammation in Aging – The redox stress hypothesis

 

 

Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

Inflammation Control to Slow Premature Aging

December 28, 2014

Inflammation Control to Slow Premature Aging – Mechanisms of Inflammation in Aging

Inflammation

Inflammation control to slow premature aging is the way to go if you are to be in-charge of the aging process especially the premature aging

In our desire to keep the beautiful skin that everyone will admire, we are consistently faced with several challenges. Some of the challengers can be very devastating and will require the professionals to be involved if permanent solution is to be found. For this reason, we are going to be consulting with doctor Dalal Akoury from time to time as we progress into the discussion about calming chronic inflammation and slow premature aging. Just for the record, doctor Akoury is one of the few professionals with more than two decades experience in beauty and skincare management. She is also the founder of a health facility known as AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center where we focus is on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE.

With that brief introduction, let’s get into the discussion. Chronic inflammation can destructively affect your health and even accelerate your skin’s aging. Therefore inflammation is a critical part of the body’s healing process: It occurs at the cellular level when the immune system tries to fight off disease causing germs and repair injured tissue. Inflammation can be invisible (if your body is battling an infection internally) or visible: Rashes or pimples, for example, occur when blood vessels widen near the skin’s surface to increase blood flow, which in turn expedites healing.

Redness, heat and swelling can also occur alongside inflammation. When the fight is over, the army of inflammation-triggering substances is supposed to withdraw, however in many cases they don’t. Besides that studies have implicated chronic inflammation with heart disease, diabetes, cancer and many more of such diseases. When it attacks the skin, it can accelerate fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores, as well as puffiness, sagging, blotchiness or reddening of the skin. All this impacts negatively on the health of the skin and the end result is premature aging. Therefore aging is a progressive degenerative process tightly integrated with inflammation. However the cause and effect are not very clear though a number of theories have been developed that attempt to define the role of chronic inflammation in aging including:

  • Redox stress
  • Mitochondrial damage
  • Immune-senescence
  • Endocrino-senescence
  • Epigenetic modifications and
  • Age-related diseases

We are going to discuss each of this aspects as we progress on but nonetheless, no single theory explains all aspects of aging, it is likely that multiple processes contribute and that all are entangled with inflammatory responses. Take for example human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals experiences premature aging phenomenon this may provide indicators to better explain the nature of inflammation in aging. Environmental and lifestyle effectors of inflammation may also contribute to variation of both inflammation and age-related dysfunction.

Inflammation Control to Slow Premature Aging – Inflammation and Aging

It must be noted that aging itself is not a disease. However it results from the accumulation over time of detrimental changes at the molecular and cellular levels, and ultimately at the level of tissues and organs, resulting in disease and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Traditionally, robust immune and inflammatory responses allowed early humans to endure to reproductive age. However, these same response mechanisms lead to a variety of lethal consequences now that humans routinely endure to older age. In a highly elaborate process, organs lose functionality and structural integrity both deriving from and leading to age-related diseases like atherosclerosis, dementia, and cancer. While the etiology of the aging process is not fully understood, inflammation clearly plays a major role, inseparably linking inflammation and aging.

Nonetheless it is not clear whether inflammation causes age-related processes, results from these processes or both. For the purpose of this article we will concentrate on current theories about the nature of chronic inflammation associated with aging including the causes and effects of inflammation with a focus on the highly entangled nature of aging and inflammation and potential interventions to moderate the effects of inflammation in aging.

Inflammation Control to Slow Premature Aging – Chronic Inflammation

Subsequent to trauma or infection, the inflammatory response is initiated at a local, cellular level. A number of cellular mediators such as macrophages and monocytes are activated. These cells release cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 which act as molecular mediators and are responsible for the progression of the response to a systemic level encompassing multiple organs. The inflammatory cascade is designed to:

  • Destroy microbial pathogens
  • Initiate tissue repair processes and
  • Promote a return to physiological homeostasis

Remember that at an acute level, this process is marked by easily discernible heat, swelling, redness, and pain. However, in terms of aging and age-related diseases, the inflammation response is a chronic, low level, subclinical process mediated by the same effectors, but opposing significantly in degree Inflammation as a function of age has been well characterized in numerous epidemiologic studies. Levels of inflammatory mediators typically increase with age even in the absence of acute infection or other physiologic stress. While levels are still in the sub-acute range, this chronic inflammation underlies many aging-related conditions. However, a key question remains. Is inflammation a cause of the aging process or an effect? We are going to be answering this question in our next article when we handle Mechanisms of Inflammation in Aging. You don’t want to miss this and so I asked you to stay on the link for a while as we unlock the truth about inflammation.

Meanwhile as I had mention in the introduction, this is not just any topic about healthcare. We are looking at the real issues that bring about premature aging. If you want to remain young even if you’re not, engage the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of Doctor Akoury’s care. Schedule for that appointment today and get to know your position with the effects of inflammation. You may never know until you get the experts opinion. It doesn’t matter where you are or what you do, our concern is to help you keep that glamorous appearance for a very long time. Give us an opportunity to help you keep that youthful look by calling doctor Akoury today.

Inflammation Control to Slow Premature Aging – Mechanisms of Inflammation in Aging

 

 

Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

Inflammation, Cancer and health

November 29, 2014

Inflammation, Cancer and health – Why your diet is important

Inflammation

Inflammation, Cancer and health. Actually inflammation can lead to several health complication more so if it is chronic inflammation.

The body defense mechanism is always under certain threats despite the measures put in place to defend it from both external and internal attacks. The body immune system and the white blood cells are such defense mechanism the body relays on for protection against diseases and infections. Whenever they are under attack the whole body organs including the skin are at risk of various infections. We are therefore going to discuss the effects of inflammation on human health generally before we can get to specific areas of the body.

What is inflammation?

There are two different kinds of inflammations and they include the following:

  • Acute inflammation
  • Chronic inflammation

Acute inflammation – this is actually your body’s natural and helpful immune response to tissue damage. Like for instance when you get a bruise or wound either from a minor accident or otherwise, the wound or the cut swells, reddens and feels inflamed. These are all signs that your immune system is busy at work sending white blood cells to the site of your injury to repair the tissue. In situation like this, inflammation is our friend and we couldn’t live without it.

Chronic inflammation – this is a situation where your body’s confused and damaging immune response to a bombardment of environmental, physical and mental invaders, which come in the form of things like poor diet, toxic chemicals and stress. Therefore this article will be focusing on the type of inflammation. Here’s chronic inflammation in a nutshell:

What does inflammation have to do with cancer?

Like I have indicated in the introduction that the body’s immune system is facing threats of being weaken by several health complications. For example the prolonged inflammation can harm your body’s healthy cells and tissue thereby causing the deterioration of your immune system. This deteriorated state can escalate your risk of diseases like cancer.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that not all inflammation is bad. Your body’s inflammatory response is essential for you to heal. This response communicates with your body’s immune system to send white blood cells and chemicals to help fight off infection or repair an injury.

But when inflammation persists, or when your body triggers a response when you don’t have an infection or injury, its cause for concern.

Other causes of chronic inflammation can include obesity, smoking and even the second hand smoking, stress, lack of exercise, exposure to secondhand smoke and diet choices. And worse, chronic inflammation often shows no signs.

The good news is you can reduce chronic inflammation and lower your cancer risks. “It starts with your diet”. An anti-inflammatory diet also can help you avoid diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s.

The following are some of the anti-inflammatory diet tips.

Add more plant foods to your plate

Plant foods are the only foods that contain anti-inflammatory phytonutrients. Plus, they are high in the antioxidants and fiber your body needs to stay cancer-free. Fiber also can lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein in the blood that signals inflammation.

The experts in nutrition recommend filling at least two-thirds of your plate with foods realized naturally from the vegetation. Like for instance:

  • It is advisable that you serve half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables and fruits of all colors.
  • Make one-quarter of your plate whole grains or starchy vegetables, like potatoes, corn and peas.
Limit processed foods

Choosing whole, fresh foods and doing your own prep maximizes nutrients and phytonutrients. These nutrients keep us healthy in many ways, while reducing inflammation.

Processed foods are lower in nutrients and higher in refined sugars, flours and fats. These foods are usually loaded with artificial ingredients that can increase CRP levels.

  • Avoid highly processed foods, like fast food, packaged and instant foods.
  • Steer clear of processed meats, like deli-meats, bacon, sausage, hotdogs and pepperoni.
  • Sodas and other sport drinks are to be no go zones.
Balance fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids can help protect your body from chronic inflammation. On the other hand, omega-6 fatty acids increase inflammation.

Many Americans are trying to include more omega-3 fatty acids in their diet. But, they’re still eating too much omega-6 fatty acids.

The key is balance, so you’ll take in more omega-3 and less omega-6.

  • Eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, halibut, flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, pecans and avocado.
  • Use oils high in omega-3, such as olive and canola.
  • Avoid or limit oils high in omega-6, such as corn, sunflower, peanut and soybean.
  • Read the ingredients on packaged foods. Limit foods made with refined vegetable oils high in omega-6. You’ll find these oils in most snack foods, cookies, crackers and sweets.

Reduce consumption of red meat

Eating too much red meat, like pork, beef, lamb, deer and buffalo, can increase your cancer risks. Try to limit red meat to 18 oz. or less each week to keep your cancer risks low.

The experts suggest replacing red meat with these high protein foods to help reduce chronic inflammation.

  • Choose animal proteins, such as skinless chicken, turkey and fish.
  • Replace animal proteins with plant proteins, such as beans and lentils, at some meals.
  • Choose meat, milk, cheese and eggs from pasture-raised and hormone-free animals.

Eat more fermented foods

Fermented foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut and miso contain probiotics that help reduce inflammation. To get the most health perks, eat at least one small serving of a fermented food each day.

  • Choose low-fat, plain organic yogurt and kefir.
  • Try fermented vegetables, such as sauerkraut and kimchi, with a sandwich or salad.
  • Enjoy a cup of miso soup or kombucha tea.

Foods that help prevent cancer also help reduce chronic inflammation, and vice-versa. So, following these guidelines will ultimately reduce your risk of a variety of chronic diseases, and improve your quality of life.

If you’re concerned you have chronic inflammation, speaking to doctor Dalal Akoury will be very helpful to you to unlock all the problems going through your mind. Doctor Akoury is an expert of more than two decades and has transformed many people’s lives through effective treatment which is precise and direct to the last solution. Remember that inflammation may not be friendly to you at all and so scheduling for an appointment the doctor Akoury is the best you can do for yourself, your family and even to the extended family.

Inflammation, Cancer and health – Why your diet is important

Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

  • Recent Posts

  • Blog Categories