inflammation take root. On the flip side, we can slow down the destruction of our cells and further strengthen our stem cells by watching what we eat, exercising regularly, and managing stress. These three mixed together are the recipe for the best anti-aging cocktail out there!
How the Body Responds to Damage
The body attempts to cope with disease and injury to a certain extent, provided we let it. Rest, proper diet and nutrition, mental clarity, and calmness, along with proper physical exercise, can all help the body heal itself. As inflammation settles down, pain starts to lessen. It is extremely important we let the inflammation subside completely, preventing the condition from progressing to a chronic state.
The body will respond to damage in two ways:
1. When injury or damage is mild, the cells will regenerate.
Or
2. When the injury or damage is profound, the loss of tissue will result in declining function, and if the decline is extensive, then death will result.
When possible, it is important to focus on regenerative repair and healing by replacing damaged native cells. This process helps us return to optimal function and performance. The rate of tissue regeneration and repair varies in different organs. Bone marrow cells, skin cells, and the lining of our gut replace themselves at a high rate. Organs such as the kidneys, liver, and lungs repair at a much slower pace. Tissues such as brain cells (neurons) or heart cardiac muscle cells do not regenerate on their own. Injuries in these organs generally end up in scar tissue formation with loss of function.
CASE STUDY: REZA
Reza, a 32-year-old software programmer, started feeling cramping abdominal pain accompanied by loose stools about six years ago. At the time he was a sales manager for a reputable pharmaceutical company. His erratic bowel movements interfered with his job. He was always on the lookout for a nearby restroom. He inconveniently had to plan ahead on most of his sales trips. He tried some dietary modifications, but the symptoms persisted. He also noticed some blood-stained stools. After a colonoscopy and biopsy, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.
With medications, Reza would feel good for a few months. But his symptoms would return with a vengeance. He eventually had to give up his sales career and retrained as a software programmer in an effort to work from home. He became physically, psychologically, and socially devastated. Last year, reluctantly, he agreed to undergo colectomy surgery in which nearly his entire colon was removed. He has some relief now but has to deal with the side effects of such a major surgery.
Along with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis is part of the spectrum of inflammatory bowel disease that affects about 2 million people in North America. And the incidence of these maladies is rising in many developing countries. In this disease, the lining of the bowel is inflamed and starts destroying local cells. The exact cause is unknown. But family history, immune reaction, and environmental bacteria or toxins can play a role.
Inflammation, the Secret Killer
We need to play close attention to the role inflammation plays. Inflammation is an attempt by our body to control disease and injury. Left unchecked, inflammation can damage cells and create a toxic environment. Inflammation can affect local tissue and cells impacted by disease and injury. But it also has a systemic effect on the rest of the body. One common example is fever caused by inflammation anywhere in the body. The consequences can be devastating. Significant injuries and chronic conditions overwhelm the body and need help in order to get things under control. Medications and surgery have been our primary options so far. However, these approaches do not necessarily address the root cause of what’s happening at the cellular level. Even when effective, they cause negative side effects and collateral damage. Surgery along with subsequent immobilization can induce more inflammation.
CASE STUDY: PHILIP
Philip is a 50-year-old who has been an insurance company administrator for 25 years. Over the last 12 months, both his knees have been hurting. When he wakes up in the morning, his joints stiffen up. He feels stiffness and pain even when rising from his desk. Some days the pain can be pretty severe. Philip has resorted to over-the-counter pain medications.
Philip decided to go see his doctor to find out what led to his knee pain. There has been no recent injury or trauma. He has led a pretty regular life. His wife has worked at an administrative job at a local hospital for the past 20 years. They have a son now 22, just out of college. Philip is moderately built with a body mass index of about 27. He doesn’t remember ever having a problem with his knees before. Both Philip’s parents have age-related aches and pains consistent with osteoarthritis.
So why do our joints hurt as we age? Especially when there have been no specific injuries? We have always thought that joint pain was due to wear and tear. But research has recently shown that there might be more happening inside the joint contributing to pain. It is more than simply wear and tear.
We are starting to understand what happens at the cellular level. It could be a combination of things. A sedentary lifestyle, aging, and a genetic predisposition (a family history) can all contribute to joint pain and the early onset of osteoarthritis. As we age, the cells within cartilage go into a state of inflammation, altering their ability to heal. The inflammation also alters the ability of joints to handle weight and pressure. A genetic predisposition to osteoarthritis can speed up this process. Even during youth, declining activity and a sedentary lifestyle cause muscles to go weak. The muscles are unable to support the joint. These events together set up a chain reaction. One thing leads to another, and soon pain starts to become part of our life. The good news is that we can slow down this process.
Since injury or disease disturbs our cells, all repair and healing also has to occur at the level of our cells. Stem cell treatments are based on the concept of replacing these damaged cells with new cells, leading to tissue growth. The new cells help repair diseased or injured tissues. As well, stem cells are known to have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. In certain scenarios stem cells can help fight inflammation at the cellular level and preserve natural tissue without much downside. As stem cell treatments develop, they will have to be tailored to the particular tissues or cell types they are attempting to regenerate. They can also alter our immune environment. This further helps to clean up the toxic inflammatory environment and thus promote healing. Preliminary research is showing promise, and the hope is that a cure for many conditions is in the near future.
Factors That Impact Healing
No matter what the treatment, there are certain elements within our environment and body that can actually interfere with the healing process. Your goal should be to minimize the impact on your body’s ability to heal. Factors both inside you and outside in your environment may have to be controlled for optimal healing.
One important thing to do after any procedure or treatment is to reduce local pressure or force. It is important to rest the part that has been treated. As tissue regeneration and repair takes place, you should prevent the healing cells from pulling apart or becoming disrupted. You want the healing cells to line up. A lack of rest can only lead to distortion and suboptimal healing.
Next it is important that your nutrition is good. A deficiency of certain proteins, vitamins, and minerals (especially vitamin C) can interfere with cell multiplication and regeneration. This can delay the healing process and/or result in the development of weaker tissues.
Both infection and diabetes can compromise the regenerative capacity of your cells and interfere with healing. And not only can they result in improper healing, but diabetes and infection can create severe complications
