Ask for an hs-CRP when you test for cholesterol.
Inflammation is part of the normal healing process. It causes the redness, warmth, swelling, and pain you feel when you get a splinter, for example.
But when inflammation sticks around for a while, it can become chronic. Chronic inflammation is linked to many health problems, including heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, cancer and more.
Inflammation in blood vessels happens when plaque builds up inside the walls of arteries. Sometimes the plaque breaks open, causing the body to send out white blood cells to attack this harmful material and seal it off with a clot of blood. If the blood clot is large, it can block blood flow and cause a heart attack or stroke.[1]
Ask your doctor to order a hs-CRP when you get your cholesterol checked
Elevated hs-CRP means there is inflammation in your body related to the cardiovascular system. People who are otherwise healthy but with elevated hs-CRP values are up to 4x as likely to have coronary heart disease (CHD). Reduction in hs-CRP and LDL are associated with a reduction in atherosclerotic progression.
How to lower inflammation
- Find out the cause – food sensitivities, a chronic low level infection, an inflamed gut, toxins, a problem tooth, and more.
- Aside from eating a vegetable rich, low carb, whole foods diet and moderate exercise,
- Take an absorbable turmeric (curcumin) supplement[2]. We carry Turiva at BNHC and you can find Theracurmin on our on-line ordering system Fullscript. The dose is 2 caps a day. I take my 2 caps at bedtime to support my heart and to help overall inflammation and better sleep. Turmeric has also been shown to help with fatigue and depression.
Other lab tests to consider asking for
Read Dr. Maxwell’s about article about the other labs available for a comprehensive cardiovascular screening. Particularly important for people with a strong family history.
For an in-depth cardiovascular consult, schedule an appointment by calling us at 208-388-0405.
[1] https://www.clevelandheartlab.com/blog/6-signs-of-chronic-inflammation-you-shouldnt-ignore/
[2] Gorabi AM, Abbasifard M, Imani D, Aslani S, Razi B, Alizadeh S, Bagheri-Hosseinabadi Z, Sathyapalan T, Sahebkar A. Effect of curcumin on C-reactive protein as a biomarker of systemic inflammation: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2022 Jan;36(1):85-97. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7284. Epub 2021 Sep 29. PMID: 34586711.