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My Experience With C-Reactive Protein
By Walt "dr health" Edwards

Due to the great number of spam, we changed the E-mail address. Please contact me using this number: 1-541-247-7077 Past issues available on my web site: getwel-newsletter.
This is not the first time C-Reactive Protein has been the subject covered in this newsletter. However, it is the first time reporting my personal experience with the test procedure of C-Reactive Protein, High Sensitivity. This test detects inflammation that can be caused by cross linking which is the body's natural repair mechanism. It is an age-old immunological defense mechanism. Inflammation acts as nature's band aid and plaque is usually the end result.

Inflammation and plaque causes the cavity that allows blood flow through the arteries to become narrow - occlusion occurs. The whole process of glycation, cross linking and inflammation can begin as early as five years of age and can be detected with a blood test for C-Reactive Protein.

Dr. Paul Ridker, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the father of modern inflammation research said in a cover article about chronic inflammation in Time magazine (February 23, 2003), "Just a few years ago, nobody was interested in this stuff. Now the whole field of inflammation research is about to explode."

Dr. Andrew Weil, a leading integrative medicine specialist says, "chronic inflammation just may be the root of all degenerative disease." And professor of gastroenterology at the University of Aberdeen, UK, Emad El Omar, says in an article in The Scientist (July 14, 2003), "I personally believe that chronic inflammation is the root of all evil." Time magazine states, "Instead of different treatments for, say, heart disease, Alzheimer's and colon cancer, there might be a single, inflammation-reducing remedy that would prevent all three."

My first blood draw for a complete blood panel was done on March 1st. I asked for a C-Reactive Protein, High Sensitivity test to be done at the same time. The result of this test revealed cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose were all in the normal range. However, the C-Ractive Protein High Sensitivity was 6.25 which is considered high as the reference range is .70 mg/L. The risk of future MI was 2.65 which was rated HIGHEST.

The term myocardial infarction, (MI) is derived from myocardium (the heart muscle) and infarction (tissue death due to oxygen starvation). The phrase "heart attack" is sometimes used incorrectly to describe sudden cardiac death, which may or may not be the result of acute myocardial infarction.

Classical symptoms of acute myocardial infarction include chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, sweating, and anxiety or a feeling of impending doom. Patients frequently feel suddenly ill. Women often experience different symptoms than men. The most common symptoms of MI in women include shortness of breath, weakness, and fatigue. Approximately one third of all myocardial infarctions are silent, without chest pain or other symptoms.

Heredity can be a contributing factor for heart disease which may be true in my case. Fortunately, narrowing of coronary arteries is not a death sentence. Arteries do not become swollen so much that it shrinks the bloodstream to a pinpoint. And healthy arteries have the ability to accommodate for the inflammation by "relaxing" or dilating. Exercise or activity is important for this function to occur. This ensures that blood flow continues without interruption - and that heart disease goes unnoticed.

Stress and a negative attitude can cause elevated adrenalin and cortisol which narrow vessels, increased heart need for oxygen, increased blood clotting which blocks vessels in heart disease, increased fat cells and production of the inflammatory process.

Most heart attacks and strokes creep up on victims when inflammation goes haywire like 6.25 or more. This is typical among us Americans because the lack of exercise and the inflammation-causing diet has become a dominant factor in causing obesity. Consequently, what should be temporary for healing becomes long-term and deadly. The overly aggressive inflammation cascade causes plaque (nature's band aid) to rupture. This rupturing triggers the emergence of a blood clot (thrombus).

Corrective Action: My doctor suggested another blood draw in six weeks and asked me what I intended to do to correct the high inflammation reading. My corrective action was to increase walking to 30 minutes daily, be more careful with my diet and to lose a couple of pounds.

In addition to the daily supplements of Men's Blend, which is my main source of vitamins, minerals and herbs, CoQ 10, (100 mg), Super Omega 3 fish oil, (3 daily), Essential Fatty Acids, (3 daily), Superzymes to aid digestion at each meal, Nattokinase, a powerful enzyme derived from the food natto and has been used successfully for circulatory health for over 200 years. I added SerraPhase, an enteric coated proteolytic enzyme specially formulated to naturally support the human body's general proinflammatory response. SerraPhase contains a natural, enteric-coated protein enzyme that breaks up and disperses collected cellular debris remaining in inflamed areas, supporting healthy circulation and normal inflammation response throughout the body - in joints, muscles, tendons, cartilage, and even the heart, sinuses and bronchial.

The suggested use is one tablet twice daily between meals. In the case of more severe inflammation, three tablets daily. I decided to take two tablets three times daily until my next blood draw scheduled for April 17th. Why take six tablets? My interest was to lower my risk of MI as soon as possible and at the same time evaluate this new product before ordering any additional bottles.

According to recent inflammation research reports reveal helpful supplements to also reduce C-Reative Protein are Wobenzym N and Quercetin-Bromalain combination. The main reason I selected SerraPhase was the number of tablets were less than the recommended amount of Wobenzym N. Favorable reports have been made to me on both Wobenzym N and Quercetin-Bromalain which are two of the more popular choices.

Corrective Action Results: My second blood draw was done on April 17th. The CRP, HIGH SENSITIVITY test was 0.86 mg/L and the risk of future MI was 1.25 which was considered mild. My doctor was satisfied and in my opinion the corrective action was successful. I presently take three SerraPhase daily at this time to control inflammation. My goal is to reach 0.70 mg/L which is considered normal.

Studies out of Harvard Medical School have shown that about 80 percent of patients recommended for heart surgery will do well with medical treatment. Taking responsibility for your own health by making diet and lifestyle changes in your life can eliminate the need for surgery in most cases. Learn to be more positive about yourself. Consider your day-to-day problems as challenges or lessons to deal and make your whole day brighter.

Thought For The Day... To understand that we reap sooner or later what we sow, to see that for every action there is reaction, to acknowledge that for every deed there is consequence, to know that there is continuity between initiation and outcome, to remember that what goes from us returns to us is another way of describing the action of KARMA or "Do to others as you would like done to you!" Treat your body well and your body will treat you well!

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