Has anyone had their crp tested with their cholesterol?
I’m in a low grade tizzy right now. My number came back 10.3, which is through the roof high. CRP apparently measures inflammation, and is used to determine your risk of a cardiac event. Under 1 is low risk, 1 to 3 is medium risk, over 3 is high risk.
What has me a bit confused and concerned…my dr put me on a statin and said there was really never any reason to check crp or cholesterol again, all it would tell him is if I was taking the statins.
In my online research (I know dr’s hate that) - what the number is telling me is I have active inflammation. My thyroid numbers once again are out of whack. But my dr had no inclination to get to the bottom of why my number is so high.
I have one risk factor - my mom had heart disease. I exercise 5 times a week, eat well, don’t smoke.
I started taking some vitamins as well, I figure it can all only help. Vit C, fish oil, curcumin, etc.
Has anyone here had the test and found it was possible to lower their number?
I’ve not ever heard nor been tested, at least to my knowledge, and don’t have any heart issues, but if you’re looking for anti-inflammatory foods, how about avocado?
Your doc is using CRP to assess cardiac risk, Which is one of its uses but, as you say, it can also be used, non-specifically to detect inflammation.
With a CRP over 10 you are already well past the detection of cardiac risk zone and into the inflammation monitoring. A CRP that high could be due to a lot of things: an infection, lupus, arthritis, Crohn’s, etc. The list of inflammatory diseases goes on and on. But your doc is apparently thinking; " Hmm…increased CRP = increased cardiac risk. I’ve covered that with the statin. There, problem solved."
I’d check with another doctor to chase down that CRP reading and make sure that it really is only cardiac risk and that it has been adequately addressed by the statin, and is not some other inflammatory condition.
There are lots of causes for inflammation. Asthma is inflammatory as well, so my numbers are always high for any test measuring inflammation since I’ve had asthma for decades. Even when I take my medications regularly (as I always do), inflammation remains and my numbers remain high. My lung doc isn’t worried about it–none of the 6 lung docs I’ve seen in the last 15 months seemed at all concerned, nor the 3 Infectious Disease doctors or 1 of the 2 allergists.
mark my words…cholesterol is the most over hyped health concern of the late 20th-early 21st century. I get a lot of are you nuts response when I say it. but slowly but surely I am being proven to be on the correct side of science. if you learn the history of how cholesterol became a super concern and than an obsession it is a lesson in mass hysteria and no science just a theory.(and a weak one at that) and so many people have it ingrained in their head and so many doctors have decades vested in the cholesterol hysteria and in the last 10-15 years prescribing statins it is a major battle to undo the unnecessary obsession. (laugh all you want but mark my words)
I believe there has been no link between cholesterol and heart problems. But c reactive protein shows inflammation, which I do believe is the cause of a lot of ills.
@zobroward I hope you are right as mine is terribly high and I do not take the level of statins my doctor prescribes. From what I recall reading though, there has been a significant decrease in heart related disease since the introduction of statins which would indicate they might be effective?
I’m going to see an endocrinologist, I’m hypothyroid but I’ve had a hard time maintaining my levels, I’m swinging above and below. But I can’t get in until the end of August. I now don’t feel like I’ll keel over between now and then. But I have to say I do think the vitamins are helping me feel better. Sure, it could be wishful thinking but I do feel healthier, even if I feel like a crazy lady with all the bottles lined up across the counter and I had to get a huge pill container to fit them all.
eyemamom -placebo effect is ok if it works. (as long as you do not damage your health with those vitamins…entire other subject)
yearstogo my mother had a cognitive valve defect repair several years ago. before the surgery she had to have a catheterization for helping set up for a less invasive style operation. the interventional cardiologist mentioned to her she had no plaque build up (which was not the purpose of the procedure he just noted it to her in talking to her). I said I have been telling you for years to not take those statins, they ruin your liver and brain etc. she said I am afraid to stop…why? what if need them? need them for what? your only heart problem is(now was) a heart valve defect you were born with.
@zobroward I have had high-cholesterol my entire life as does most of my family members. I have taken statins on and off. A year ago I had a heart CT scan which showed a lot of plaque in one of my arteries which apparently is unusual for someone who is not yet 50, so I went to a cardiologist who recommended I start taking a high-dose of statins.
What I found interesting was that I asked if I were to exercise more, eat better, etc if I could get off of the statins. He indicated that the recommendations now are very straightforward, that if you have any risk factors you should be on a high dosage of statins, no matter if one of the risk factors goes away.
My dr said something similar yearstogo - he pretty much said he never needed to test my cholesterol or crp again, all it would do is tell him if I was taking the meds. The crp, regardless of the underlying cause, showed inflammation that was bad for the heart. He was pretty straight forward saying I was on statins for life now.
a) I would want to have my C Reactive test repeated in about 3 months to confirm the high number.
b) have your blood glucose levels tested. I have read many articles showing a rise in blood glucose and the use of statins.
c) I worry about doctors prescribing high doses because the human body needs some cholesterol to properly function…nerve endings, brain, liver, etc. I would discuss with your doctor about being on the lowest possible dosage for your numbers.
d) there is a website called the Low Histamine Chef and she often blogs about anti inflammatory foods and diets.
e) research turmeric / curcumin for inflammation (but not if you are on a blood thinner)
yearstogo --your genetics are at play(in 2017 nothing you can do about that)it is not you just that you need to exercise more or eat “right”. we all want to feel like we have control of our health by just doing the “right” thing.
the plaque in your arties did not come from eating to many cheeseburgers. it occurs because of your genetic predisposition to produce to much cholesterol not from your diet. . like some people have excess ear wax or have issues with dry eyes(not related to medication they take) .
agree, but it does go down quite a bit when I exercise regularly and eat more fruits/vegetables, less meat…I am also supposed to take a daily aspirin but my stomach cannot tolerate it…