Aging Untold: What chronic inflammation is and how it could affect your health
(Aging Untold) — On this episode of Aging Untold, we take a closer look at inflammation — what it is, when it’s helpful and when it can become a long-term health problem.
Plus, how to shop for safer, more supportive shoes as your feet change with age.
Then, an inspiring reset story of one man rebuilding his life, one Lego brick at a time after a devastating accident.
What chronic inflammation is and how it could affect your health
There is a difference between acute inflammation and chronic inflammation.
Understanding the difference between helpful and harmful inflammation could be one of the most important steps you take for your long-term health.
Most people associate inflammation with something visible — a sprained ankle or a swollen joint. But Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, said visible swelling is the healthy kind.
Short-term inflammation is actually your body doing its job.
Chronic inflammation is a different story. The inflammation you can’t see is the kind to worry about. “That’s like this alarm system that never turns off, and that’s where the problem comes in,” Rogers said. “Over time you start to damage tissues and then that’s what you see as linked to different diseases — cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers, cognitive decline.”
Your shoe choices matter more than you think as you age
Your shoes are more than a fashion statement – they are your foundation.
The wrong pair can affect your balance, alter your stride and raise your risk of falls.
As you age, having the right pair is important and you might need to change the way you shop.
Safety is individualized, and it has to be what’s going to work for the person.
“What’s going to work for me is not going to work necessarily for you,” Sam Cradduck, a gerontologist, said.
Amy O’Rourke, an aging expert, shared a practical tip on when to shop for shoes: “I do not buy shoes in the morning because my feet swell and so I wait ’til the afternoon,” she said.
How melatonin works and what you should know about it
You have probably heard about melatonin, but a neurologist says many people misunderstand what it actually does.
Dr. Michael Howell, a neurologist and sleep specialist at the University of Minnesota, said melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain that helps regulate the body’s circadian rhythm — not a sleeping pill.
Howell said melatonin signals the body to prepare for sleep in several ways.
A low dose before bed can be effective for people with a circadian rhythm delay — commonly known as night owls, Howell said, but people who are early risers should avoid melatonin.
Paralyzed man builds Lego masterpieces with one finger, a thumb and his mouth
Mingo Graham spent months in a coma after a motorcycle crash 10 years ago. When he woke up, he was paralyzed below the waist and locked in a twisted position.
For about eight months, Graham did not leave his room after arriving at a rehabilitation home.
When he did, he began building Lego sets, using only his finger, thumb and mouth.
Graham said the builds provide motivation and a sense of purpose.
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