CRP is a protein that is made in your liver and released into your bloodstream. Levels of CRP start to increase very soon after any inflammation or infection affects your body. The CRP blood test can be used to find out how severe inflammation is, or whether you are responding to treatment.
Blood tests known as 'inflammatory markers' can detect inflammation in the body, caused by many diseases including infections, auto-immune conditions and cancers. The tests don't identify what's causing the inflammation: it might be as simple as a viral infection, or as serious as cancer.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein made by the liver. The level of CRP increases when there's inflammation in the body. A simple blood test can check your C-reactive protein level. A high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) test is more sensitive than a standard C-reactive protein test.
Based on visual observation, the ancients characterised inflammation by five cardinal signs, namely redness (rubor), swelling (tumour), heat (calor; only applicable to the body' extremities), pain (dolor) and loss of function (functio laesa).
Some of the most common signs of chronic inflammation include: Body discomfort, including joint stiffness, tendonitis and muscle pain. Sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea and persistent fatigue. Weight gain or unexplained weight loss.
Full blood count (FBC)
This can help give an indication of your general health, as well as provide important clues about certain health problems you may have. For example, an FBC may detect signs of: iron deficiency anaemia or vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia. infection or inflammation.
Acute inflammation is the short-term form of inflammation that occurs when you get an injury or contract an infection. It often shows up as redness, swelling, warmth, and pain in the affected area.
What is a rheumatologist? A rheumatologist is an internal medicine physician with subspecialized training in rheumatology. This medical specialty deals with musculoskeletal conditions, as well as autoimmune and inflammatory conditions in people of all ages.
Chronic inflammation begins without an apparent cause — and doesn't stop. The immune system becomes activated, but the inflammatory response isn't intermittent, as it is during an acute injury or infection. Rather, it stays on all the time at a low level.
The CRP inflammation blood test can be easily taken at home, and is designed to measure your CRP levels and provide you with early detection of any potentially severe health problems.
To reduce inflammation fast, limit your intake of sugar and processed foods. Perhaps, more importantly, though, pursue exercise, stress-reducing behaviors, a good night's sleep, and a diet full of colorful, anti-inflammatory foods.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids , which are abundant in fatty fish such as cod, are among the most potent anti-inflammatory supplements.
Ginger is a well-known anti-inflammatory. It prevents the production of inflammatory molecules like prostaglandin and leukotriene, as well pro-inflammatory cytokines. These are a type of protein found in cells, Simon says.
To fight inflammation, go for whole, unprocessed foods with no added sugar: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes (beans, lentils), fish, poultry, nuts, seeds, a little bit of low-fat dairy, and olive oil. "To these, many people add herbs and spices like cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric.
Even if you have no symptoms of disease, elevated CRP signals increased risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and more. Additionally, there's strong evidence that people with lower CRP levels have fewer inflammation-related diseases.
Third, CRP is only one of the inflammatory markers, and a recent study has reported that genetically predicted circulating concentrations of several inflammatory-related cytokines were associated with the risk of breast, endometrial, lung, ovarian, and prostate cancer [39].
High LDL and High CRP: A Deadly Combination
Studies have found that in healthy people, CRP can partially predict the risk of dying from a heart attack, blood vessel disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias [6, 8].