Why do people age - Part Three - Damage Caused by Chronic Inflammation
Our bodies have multiple protective mechanisms. We have an automatic immune defense system against different microorganisms. Bacteria that invade the human body will immediately trigger an inflammatory response in the body. White blood cells and a large number of different molecules attack the pathogens. During this process, our body's immunity will become increasingly powerful.
If it is acute inflammation, our body will defend itself quickly and effectively. However, if the inflammation persists below a certain threshold, it will impose a huge burden on our immune system and cause us to age.
So where do these inflammations come from? In fact, it is a very complex process, a combination of multiple factors. Some acute inflammations do not heal and turn into chronic inflammations, such as oral ulcers, gingivitis, chronic gastritis, etc. Some are chronic inflammations caused by factors such as oxidation and glycosylation, such as arteriosclerosis. In fact, arteriosclerosis itself is also a kind of chronic inflammation. Fat also plays a significant role in the process of chronic low-threshold inflammation. From the fat we consume, it contains many so-called cytokines, which can be divided into pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory factors. There is no need to explain these two factors; everyone can tell at a glance. Cytokines are mainly composed of fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated omega-6 fatty acids are cytokines that promote inflammation. Polyunsaturated fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids generate protective anti-inflammatory cytokines. For example, margarine and animal fats contain more omega-6 fatty acids, while fish oil and some vegetable oils contain omega-3 fatty acids. According to the above theory, we should consume more products containing omega-3 fatty acids. Generally speaking, the maximum ratio of intake of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids does not exceed 4:1.
The excessive calories we consume will be converted into fat in our bodies. This body fat is a highly active endocrine organ that produces hormones, mainly generating a large amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor. The enhanced activity of tumor necrosis factor can promote fat breakdown and cause an increase in plasma free fatty acid levels. This leads to insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. Therefore, for people who are relatively obese, there is a persistent source of chronic inflammation, which damages various organs of the body and thereby affects the aging process and lifespan.
Looking around, among the people living around us, how many are currently suffering from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases? As people age, the number of those suffering from such diseases is increasing. In fact, this is a series of impacts brought about by the aging of blood vessels. The aging of blood vessels is the result of various damages and changes to the vessel walls, among which oxidation, glycosylation and inflammation are the main factors. These factors are precisely what our living habits can trigger and cause, such as smoking. Smoking can produce a large number of aggressive free radicals, significantly increasing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
The occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is the result of the neutralization of multiple factors. For instance, glycosylation, where glucose within the blood vessels combines with proteins in the muscle layer of the blood vessels, namely collagen and elastin, causes the blood vessels to lose their tension and elasticity, making them lose elasticity and become stiff.
Bad living habits can bring about a large number of free radicals, damaging one's own antioxidant system. If there are not enough antioxidant substances, more and more low-density lipoprotein will be captured in the space under the vascular endothelial cells, where it will be oxidized and turn into oxidized low-density lipoprotein particles. And our body naturally has a system that can protect the arterial endothelial cells. When injured, this system will produce a corresponding response, releasing some special white blood cells to eliminate harmful substances. These white blood cells are the macrophages in our body. They will "engulf" oxidized low-density lipoprotein and transform it into "lipid cells". Lipid cells will attach to the walls of arterial blood vessels. In fact, this is a kind of inflammatory damage. It will cause damage to the inner walls of the arterial vessels, damaging the endothelial cells and technical functions. If it stops at the initial stage, under the interaction of various systems in our body, the body will gradually clear these defects.
However, if it is not controlled at this stage, inflammation will not only attract more white blood cells, but also form more lipid cells. Lipid cells will accumulate more on the inner walls of blood vessels, become thicker, and then cause greater damage to this layer of cells on the arteries. More low-density lipoproteins will be oxidized, and more white blood cells will be released. Gradually, The entire process then turns into a vicious circle, and arteriosclerosis begins. Therefore, arteriosclerosis is essentially a chronic inflammation of the inner walls of blood vessels.
