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Health Made Easy with Dr. Jason Jones


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Mar 2, 2021

Common blood tests for inflammation – Dr. Jason Jones Elizabeth City, NC, Chiropractor

At our Chiropractic Office at Elizabeth City, NC, we see a lot of people come in every week with chronic inflammation. Most cases of internal inflammation are often associated with a high level of stress, lack of proper nutrition, and chronic diseases such as heart disease, digestive problems, and cancer.

Inflammation has also been implicated in many autoimmune diseases. In this case, the immune system triggers an inflammatory response that attacks the body like it’s an enemy.

So the question, how do you detect these silent forms of inflammations in specific targets as well as monitor progress? The best approach has been the use of blood tests.

Here are some blood tests or markers used to determine or detect chronic forms of inflammation:

Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C)

HbA1C is a blood test that measures the amount of glucose in the blood over the past three months. It is a major test to look at a person’s inflammation.

The result is often recorded in a percentage, and higher percentages signify higher blood glucose levels.

The Hemoglobin A1C is used often used on diabetic persons to detect diabetes and monitor blood sugar levels. A high HbA1C means there is a high blood glucose level and this can cause damage to body organs.

Fasting Insulin

Fasting insulin is another blood test for inflammation. The insulin hormone is produced in the pancreas, and it helps the cells get glucose from the blood. These hormones are often released when your body detects a rise in blood sugar.

The body needs constant circulation of insulin, but when it becomes too high or too low, it becomes a problem. An excess amount of insulin in the body can be a sign of insulin resistance, which means your body does not respond well to insulin, thereby making more, and that increases the risk of inflammation in the body.

Serum Ferritin

Serum ferritin is a blood test that measures the amount of ferritin (blood cell protein that stores iron) in the body.

When you have a low level of ferritin, it indicates that are deficient in iron, and that causes anemia.

A high level of ferritin, on the other hand, can indicate inflammation, liver disease, autoimmune disease, chronic infection, and some type of cancer.

Serum ferritin decreases or increases based on inflammation, making it a useful marker for detecting chronic diseases.

C-reactive Protein (CRP)

C-reactive protein is a protein in the liver that increases when inflammation increases and decreases when inflammation decreases.

This test is useful in diagnosing and monitoring chronic inflammatory diseases, including arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune diseases, and psychological issues.

Red blood cell width (RDW)

This test measures the differences in the size of the red blood cells. And it is an excellent way to detect inflammation and oxidative stress.

The red blood cells usually start out large, but they decrease in width as they mature. So how large the cells are will determine how much nutrient and oxygen they can deliver.

Basically, an elevated RDW is linked with many diseases including macrocytic anemia and cardiovascular events.

So there you have it, the best blood tests for inflammation. You can consult Dr. Jason Jones at our Chiropractic Office in Elizabeth City NC, to learn more about inflammation and the blood tests that help to detect what is happening in your body.