At 52, my doctor looked at my blood work and said, “You have a little inflammation.” I nodded like I understood. In the car, I had no idea what that meant. I did not have a fever. Nothing was swollen. I felt fine, or so I thought.
That sent me down a rabbit hole, and I came out with a word I had never heard: inflammaging.
What inflammaging means
Researchers use the term for a low-level, long-lasting inflammation that tends to creep up as we age. It is not like the redness around a cut or the swelling after a sprain. That kind is short and useful. Inflammaging is quiet. It hums in the background for years, and you do not feel it.
Why it happens
There is no single cause, but several things add up.
- Older cells that stop dividing but stay alive and release inflammatory signals
- Extra fat around the belly, which can send out its own inflammatory messages
- Poor or short sleep
- Long-term stress
- A diet heavy in ultra-processed food
- Not moving enough
- Smoking and too much alcohol
- Years of sun exposure on the skin
What it is linked to
Scientists connect this kind of chronic inflammation with a higher chance of heart disease, bone loss, stiff joints, tiredness and faster skin aging, because inflammation can break down collagen. I say “linked to” on purpose. It is one piece of a bigger picture, not a single villain.
What actually helps
The honest answer is boring, and it works.
- Move most days. Even a daily walk lowers inflammation markers.
- Protect your sleep. Poor sleep and inflammation feed each other.
- Eat more of the Mediterranean way. Vegetables, beans, olive oil, fish, nuts, fruit.
- Cut back on alcohol and skip the cigarettes.
- Find a stress outlet that is real for you. Mine is a long walk and a good friend.
- Mind your waistline with your doctor’s guidance, not crash diets.
Where cell energy fits in
Your cells repair damage using energy, and that energy depends partly on a molecule called NAD+, which drops as we get older. I wrote about it in this article. I take a NAD+ and resveratrol supplement each morning because I like supporting that side of things. I want to be upfront that research in humans is still young, and it does not replace sleep, food or movement. Please talk to your doctor before starting anything new.
When to ask for a test
If you have joint pain that does not go away, constant tiredness or you are simply curious, ask your doctor about a blood test such as CRP. It is a simple way to see what is going on instead of guessing.
That little comment in the doctor’s office changed how I look after myself. Not out of fear, just out of respect for what my body is quietly doing.
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