Immune System Hacks: How to Measure Inflammation Thomas DeLauer:
We deserve to know how inflammation affects us. This quick educational piece will teach you! More information at http://www.thomasdelauer.com
Inflammation is the body's response to injury and infection and is essential in healing. This is how the immune system responds and delivers white blood cells and other essential things to be well. When we have chronic inflammation, however, this becomes a problem. Chronic inflammation can lead to other diseases and can also be a sign of conditions in the body. But how can you tell if you have chronic inflammation in the body? It is not always as obvious as the swelling, and even when it is, the cause and treatment can not be clear. When a part of your body is inflamed, the inflamed tissue will release extra proteins into your blood. These additional proteins can be found in blood tests and are known as markers of inflammation.
3 common tests to increase protein: ESR, CRP and PV-
ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate): A blood sample is drawn and treated with a chemical so that the red blood cells are released from the transparent liquid plasma. The rate at which red blood cells fall is measured. When certain proteins are present they will cause the red blood cells to stick and fall faster. Therefore, a high rate of ESR shows that there is inflammation somewhere in the body.
CRP (C-reactive protein): CRP is a substance that is produced in the liver. More CRP occurs when there is inflammation in the body. The increase in CRP is linked to the increase of a specific protein and is therefore slightly more specific than an ESR, but it still does not reveal which condition is specifically causing the inflammation.
PV (plasma viscosity): Similar to ESR, but is specifically used for rheumatoid arthritis
The evaluation of these tests over time acts as a signal to a physician, and provides additional information about inflammation.
ESR and PV change more slowly than CRP. CRP is affected by fewer factors than PV and ESR, making it a better marker for certain types of inflammation. Increased ESR, CRP, and PV are signs of many infections, including:
muscle and connective tissue disorders
These are non-specific tests and other tests are necessary to reduce the specific cause of the inflammation. Doctors usually recommend these exams twice or more spread over weeks to months to see how levels change over time. As CRP changes more rapidly, it is often used to see how well a treatment goes. A lower CRP indicates an improvement.
Quantitative Immunoglobulin Testing: Another test that is often done to find markers of inflammation, is one that measures the levels of the three major immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM). Both the high and low levels are markers of different conditions and diseases. Immunoglobulins are antibodies that are produced during the response of your body and play a role against bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. This test is performed when chronic inflammation is suspected or continuous infections occur. This helps to diagnose and monitor conditions. Used together and with other tests depending on the symptoms and results, it is possible to diagnose and measure progress to the treatment of many diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
Understanding the treatment: When an area of the body is inflamed, the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes produce more prostaglandins (PGs), which play a key role in the inflammatory response. When you notice redness, swelling and pain, this is due to the prostaglandin response. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs act to block PG synthesis and, therefore, pain associated with inflammation. Future therapeutic measures for chronic inflammation may look at PG signaling. PGs may play a role in both the formation and resolution of inflammation. Changes in lifestyle such as healthy eating and exercise are key to reducing chronic inflammation.
1. Blood test to detect inflammation
2. High C-reactive protein
3. Quantitative immunoglobulins
4. Prostaglandins and Inflammation
Video credits to Thomas DeLauer YouTube channel