Dr. Uday Jani to discuss dangers of chronic inflammation

Delaware’s top integrative medicine physician, Uday Jani, MD, will present a free community talk on “Inflammaging” from 2 to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church parish hall, 211 Mulberry St., Lewes. He will discuss why chronic inflammation is now thought to be at the root of virtually every chronic disease, and reveal some essential strategies for prevention.

The gradual, and hidden, increase of internal inflammation as people age is inevitable ... or is it? Jani, founder of Shoreview Personalized Medical Care, will share the latest research on the root causes of inflammation and present an integrative medicine approach to prevention.

“The more we have come to understand about how the body ages, the more we realize just how much our ‘wellspan’ can be extended with proactive lifestyle changes,” said Jani. “The new focus on the impact of chronic inflammation has further emphasized the significant role of prevention in facilitating our journey to healthy aging.”

Acute inflammation – pain, swelling, redness and heat – is a normal response by the immune system to injury or infection. However, if it persists and becomes chronic, the body can turn on itself with aftereffects that contribute to a wide range of diseases in every system of the body: neurological (e.g. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s), pulmonary (asthma, COPD), bone and joint (osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis), metabolic (type 2 diabetes, fatty liver), cardiovascular (heart failure, stroke) and autoimmune (colitis, multiple sclerosis), as well as cancer.

“Some of the most interesting work being done in this field centers on cellular senescence, when aging cells stop dividing but don’t die off,” said Jani. “Instead, they remain in the body and release chemicals that can trigger inflammation. Senolytics, agents that target senescent cells, have shown promise in improving various aspects of aging when tested in animal models.”

Some are already available for other uses, such as Fisetin and Quercitin, flavonoid compounds, and the chemotherapeutic Dasatinib. However, Jani cautions: “Until human trials are completed that prove their safety, tolerability and effectiveness for this purpose, they should not be used as senolytics.”

For those who want to know how to start combating chronic inflammation now, Jani recommends adopting some highly effective diet and lifestyle modifications. He suggests increased consumption of anti-inflammatory foods, incorporating whole grains, vegetables and fruits such as avocados, cherries and kale into the diet. Also helpful is avoiding or minimizing use of antibiotics, antacids and NSAIDs, which may harm the gut microbiome. Individuals can try activities such as yoga or meditation to help alleviate stress-induced inflammation, and aim for a full seven to eight hours of restful sleep each night. Maintaining a normal weight is wise, since fatty adipose tissue induces low-grade systemic inflammation.

“Regular exercise helps too, not only to control weight, but also decrease the risk of heart disease,” said Jani.

Learn more at udayjanimd.com.