Aging, Inflammation, and the Power to Influence Our Health
- Dr. Howard A. Friedman MD, founder of HHOM LLC
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
5-11-2025
By Dr. Howard Friedman MD | Veteran | U.S. Army Medical Corps | Internal Medicine | HHOM LLC
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We are not the sum of the years we keep,
But of the choices we sow and the peace we reap.
Inflammation may spark, but we hold the flame,
To dance through the decades with strength in our name.
Eat with intention, move with grace,
Rest your spirit, embrace your pace.
The fire can heal, the flow can mend—
And the path to health is ours to tend.
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Aging is natural. Inflammation is biological. But when they intertwine, the path we walk through life can change — sometimes subtly, sometimes profoundly. This article aims to untangle how chronic low-grade inflammation and aging are interconnected, and what that understanding means for our health.
Aging is the gradual loss of physical, mental, and emotional function over time — a universal journey we all travel. Inflammation, in its classic form, is the body’s immediate and necessary response to injury, infection, or anything that does not belong. It is meant to be acute, temporary, and healing.
However, chronic low-grade inflammation is a different story. Unlike the useful surge of inflammation from a twisted ankle or a fever fighting an infection, chronic inflammation is a slow, simmering process. It can persist silently for months, even years, wearing down the body’s systems and accelerating the aging process itself.
In earlier blogs, I explored external stress, internal stress, and the healing power of gratitude. Stress, in all its forms, is another face of inflammation. Chronic inflammation is, in many ways, the hidden fuel that accelerates aging, and aging itself can promote inflammation — a cycle that can shorten health span even as lifespan ticks on.
Yet there is hope — genuine, evidence-based hope. While we cannot halt time or reverse the aging clock, we can profoundly influence how we age. My goal is not to dictate choices but to present the evidence clearly. How you live your life is, and always will be, your decision. There is no judgment here — only a commitment to share information that has stood up to scientific scrutiny.
What increases inflammation? The usual suspects are well-known but bear repeating. Smoking anything is highly inflammatory. A poor diet rich in processed foods promotes inflammation. Sleep disorders stir up internal stress. Injuries and illnesses add their own burden to the body's inflammatory load.
What lowers inflammation? Fortunately, the answers are powerful — and free.
Exercise: A study found that regular physical activity lowers inflammatory markers, although no specific type of exercise was singled out. The message is clear: movement matters.
Meditation: According to research published in Nature, meditation was shown to lower inflammation in individuals whose inflammatory markers were elevated at baseline. Regular practice matters more than technique.
For more on inflammation and its effects on health, the National Library of Medicine offers a foundational overview: Inflammation Overview - NIH.
At the end of the day, life brings challenges. Life brings stress. But the question is how we allow those challenges inside — with tension or with grace. Studies consistently show that a relaxed mind, a grateful spirit, and a lifestyle built around small but steady steps toward health all lower inflammation.
None of these interventions require wealth. They require will.
Rome was not built in a day, nor is a healthy, resilient life. You are on your own journey — and it is a journey worth honoring.
At Howard’s House of Medicine, we stand committed to evidence-based care. If you would like to learn more, we invite you to visit us at www.HHOMLLC.com.
—Dr. Howard Friedman MD
Board-Certified | Internal Medicine | Veteran | U.S. Army Medical Corps
Founder of Howard’s House of Medicine (HHOM LLC)
Q: How does inflammation impact the aging process?
A: Chronic, low-grade inflammation—often called "inflammaging"—silently contributes to many age-related diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and cognitive decline. Over time, it wears down tissues, impairs immune function, and accelerates biological aging from the inside out.
Q: Is inflammation always harmful as we age?
A: No. Inflammation is a natural defense mechanism that helps the body heal from injury or infection. The problem arises when this response stays “on” long after it’s needed. That’s when inflammation shifts from helpful to harmful, increasing the risk of chronic illness and functional decline.
Q: What lifestyle choices reduce inflammation and support healthy aging?
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