COULD SOMETHING AS SIMPLE as a quick and easy blood test save your life?
Absolutely.
It is called a C-reactive protein test, and it measures the degree of HIDDEN inflammation in your body.
Finding out whether or not you are suffering from hidden inflammation is critical, because almost every modern disease is caused or affected by it.
If your immune system and its ability to quell inflammation in your body are impaired, watch out. You are headed toward illness and premature aging.
Fortunately, addressing the causes of inflammation and learning how to live an anti-inflammatory lifestyle can dramatically improve your health.
Today, I am going to review what the primary causes of inflammation are and give you a simple, 7-step approach that will help you cool the fires raging out of control in your body.
Cooling off Inflammation is Key #3 to UltraWellness and in this blog — the third in this 7-part series on the 7 keys to UltraWellness — I am going to teach you how to do just that.
The first step is to understand what inflammation is and why it can become so dangerous.
Inflammation: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Everyone who has had a sore throat, rash, hives, or a sprained ankle knows about inflammation. These are normal and appropriate responses of the immune — your body’s defense system — to infection and trauma.
This kind of inflammation is good. We need it to survive — to help us determine friend from foe.
The trouble occurs when that defense system runs out of control, like a rebel army bent on destroying its own country.
Many of us are familiar with an overactive immune response and too much inflammation. It results in common conditions like allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disease, and asthma. This is bad inflammation, and if it is left unchecked it can become downright ugly.
What few people understand is that hidden inflammation run amok is at the root of all chronic illness we experience — conditions like heart disease, obesity, diabetes, dementia, depression, cancer, and even autism.
A study of a generally “healthy” elderly population found that those with the highest levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin 6 (two markers of systemic inflammation) were 260 percent more likely to die during the next 4 years. The increase in deaths was due to cardiovascular and other causes.
We may feel healthy, but if this inflammation is raging inside of us, then we are in trouble.
The real concern is not our response to immediate injury, infection, or insult. It is the chronic, smoldering inflammation that slowly destroys our organs and our ability to function optimally and leads to rapid aging.
Common treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen or aspirin) and steroids like prednisone — though often useful for acute problems — interfere with the body’s own immune response and can lead to serious and deadly side effects.
Take, for example, a man who came to see me recently. He wanted to climb a mountain and asked for my help to get healthy. He was 57 years old and took about 15 medications for six different inflammatory conditions: high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, colitis, reflux, asthma, and an autoimmune disease of his hair follicles called alopecia.
In fact, as many people die from taking anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen every year as die from asthma or leukemia. Stopping these drugs would be equivalent to finding the cure for asthma or leukemia –- that’s a bold statement, but the data is there to back it up.
Meanwhile, the real effects of statin drugs like Lipitor in reducing heart disease may have nothing to do with lowering cholesterol, but with their unintended side effect of reducing inflammation.
But is taking medication the right approach to addressing the problem of inflammation?
No. It is DOWNSTREAM medicine.
Here’s how UPSTREAM medicine thinks about inflammation …
How to Locate the Causes of Hidden Inflammation
So if inflammation and immune imbalances are at the root of most of modern disease, how do we find the causes and get the body back in balance?
First, we need to identify the triggers and causes of inflammation. Then we need to help reset the body’s natural immune balance by providing the right conditions for it to thrive.
As a doctor, my job is to find those inflammatory factors unique to each person and to see how various lifestyle, environmental, or infectious factors spin the immune system out of control, leading to a host of chronic illnesses.
Thankfully, the list of things that cause inflammation is relatively short:
- • Poor diet—mostly sugar, refined flours, processed foods, and inflammatory fats such as trans and saturated fats• Lack of exercise
• Stress
• Hidden or chronic infections with viruses, bacteria, yeasts, or parasites
• Hidden allergens from food or the environment
• Toxins such as mercury and pesticides
• Mold toxins and allergens
By listening carefully to a person’s story and performing a few specific tests , I can discover the causes of inflammation most people.
It’s important to understand that this concept of inflammation is not specific to any one organ or medical specialty. In fact, if you read a medical journal from any field of medicine, you will find endless articles about how inflammation is at the root of problems with the particular organ or area they focus on.
So what’s the problem?
There is almost no communication between specialties. Everyone is treating the downstream effects of inflammation, but addressing the causes of inflammation that are upstream could help people who have multiple problems that are really linked together by this common root cause.
Take, for example, a man who came to see me recently. He wanted to climb a mountain and asked for my help to get healthy. He was 57 years old and took about 15 medications for six different inflammatory conditions: high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, colitis, reflux, asthma, and an autoimmune disease of his hair follicles called alopecia.
Yet when I asked him how he felt, he said “great”. I told him I was surprised because he was on so many medications.
Yes, he said, but everything was very well controlled with the latest medications prescribed by the top specialists he saw in every field—the lung doctor for his asthma, the gastroenterologist for his colitis and reflux, the cardiologist for his high blood pressure, the endocrinologist for his pre-diabetes, the dermatologist for his hair loss.
But did any of those specialists ask him why he had six different inflammatory diseases and why his immune system was so pissed off? Was it just bad luck that he “got” all these diseases — or was there something connecting all these problems?
He looked puzzled and said “no”.
I then searched for and uncovered the cause of his problems: gluten. He had celiac disease, an autoimmune disease related to eating gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley, rye, spelt, and oats.
Six months later he came back to see me. He had lost 25 pounds, had no more high blood pressure, asthma, reflux, or colitis, and said he had normal bowel movements for the first time in his life. His hair was even growing back. And he was off nearly all his medications.
7 Steps to Living an Anti-inflammatory Life
So once you have figured out the causes of inflammation in your life, gotten rid of them, the next step is to keep living an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. But how do you do that?
Here is what I recommend. It’s a disarmingly simple but extraordinarily effective way to achieve UltraWellness:
1. Whole Foods – Eat a whole foods, high-fiber, plant-based diet, which is inherently anti-inflammatory. That means choosing unprocessed, unrefined, whole, fresh, real foods, not those full of sugar and trans fats and low in powerful anti-inflammatory plant chemicals called phytonutrients.
2. Healthy Fats – Give yourself an oil change by eating healthy monounsaturated fats in olive oil, nuts and avocadoes, and getting more omega-3 fats from small fish like sardines, herring, sable, and wild salmon.
3. Regular Exercise –- Mounting evidence tells us that regular exercise reduces inflammation. It also improves immune function, strengthens your cardiovascular systems, corrects and prevents insulin resistance, and is key for improving your mood and erasing the effects of stress. In fact, regular exercise is one among a small handful of lifestyle changes that correlates with improved health in virtually ALL of the scientific literature. So get moving already!
4. Relax – Learn how to engage your vagus nerve by actively relaxing. This powerful nerve relaxes your whole body and lowers inflammation when you practice yoga or meditation, breathe deeply, or even take a hot bath.
5. Avoid Allergens – If you have food allergies, find out what you’re allergic to and stop eating those foods—gluten and dairy are two common culprits.
6. Heal Your Gut – Take probiotics to help your digestion and improve the balance of healthy bacteria in your gut, which reduces inflammation.
7. Supplement – Take a multivitamin/multimineral supplement, fish oil, and vitamin D, all of which help reduce inflammation.
Taking this comprehensive approach to inflammation and balancing your immune system addresses one of the most important core systems of the body.
In the future, medicine may no longer have specialties like cardiology or neurology or gastroenterology, but new specialists like “inflammologists”.
But by understanding these concepts and core systems that are the basis of healthy living now, you don’t have to wait.
Now I’d like to hear from you …
Have you had your C-reactive protein tested?
Do you think inflammation may be at the core of your health condition?
Why do you think so many doctors practice downstream medicine instead of catching problems early with upstream medicine?
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
To your good health,
Mark Hyman, MD
I have not had the c-reactive test,however I will ask for it when next my bloodwork is done.
I do have inflammation and have for many years.I have swollen legs and ankles.I have been on lasix for a very long time. I wonder if I should be on this medication for so long.
Claire
Does anyone out there have anything on clearing mercury out of your system, and your cells.
What if you have a virus like the herpes virus, that stays with you all the time? Any thoughts?
Thank you, Leigh, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
This story resonates with me in that I have been diagnosed with Chronic Prostatitis, which is commonly called Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome for lack of a better term. I had swelling and inflammation that began in my scrotum as “epididymitis” and then progressed to prostatitis, and then to an inflamed bladder with interstitial cystitis like symptoms. Over the three years since my diagnoses I’ve been treated for multiple other -itis’ that I had never experienced prior to this time. It seemed to me like my inflammatory system was completely out of whack but doctor after doctor insisted my bloodwork looked good and I’m healthy. I don’t feel healthy and battle bladder pain and urinary symptoms on a daily basis. This sense of hopelessness has led to depression and anxiety. I am determined that the only way I will ever get better is on my own through healing and balancing my entire body. I have been told by a prominent urologist that “there’s not a person in the world that can tell you why you have the symptoms you do, all we can do is treat the symptoms.” I hope to prove him wrong.
Thank you, Mark, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
It is interesting to me how so many things are linked to inflammation and C reactive protein, including periodontal disease, heart disease, diabetes, allergies, etc, but yet people don’t seem to realize that reducing inflammation could be easily helped by just eating a proper diet. Patients are conditioned to think that nothing is under their control, that they need medication to help their ailments, but that is just not true! Exercise, diet, reducing stress, and getting enough sleep may be a better prescription than any meds out there! Great article!
I spoke to my PCP about the C-reactive protein blood test and asked why she doesn’t use it within her family practice as a screening tool, and she said because it is not specific enough to target where the inflammation is coming from. What are your thoughts?
What you say totally makes sense. Currently I am on a high blood pressure med and 325mg of aspirin because in 2003 I had a stroke (not a mini). I’m on a generic cholesterol drug and an anti-depressant–having a lot to do with life events. So those are the 4 prescription drugs. I have lots of problems with sinusitis, allergy and a mild asthma that occasionally shows up. I just don’t have the resources. In the past 18 months I have had two staph infections/ cellulitis, which was made worse by not being employed with health insurance. In this case self-medicating was a very bad thing. I’m still in recovery from a staph infection I don’t have a specific reason for having. Going into a temp agency for testing yesterday made the symptoms flare up, I’m coping with that now and I finished the antibiotics, so that sounds like stress. At the moment I have seeming higher crises, and I try to eat healthier but I’m sure I could do better. Exercise has been replaced by life and “more important things.” When I was at a health club 4-5 times a week I had no health problems whatsoever. I can really believe that inflammation has a lot going on here, and I end up taking anti-inflammatories. I want to get back to feeling the way I did when I was healthier, but when you’re in a mess in other ways it takes a back seat.
I HAVE HIGH C-REACTIVE LEVELS AND HAVE HAD FOR OVER 15 YEARS. NOTHING I TRY WORKS !! I EAT VERY HEALTHY, TAKE TOP QUALITY MULTI VITAMINS, FLAX SEED OIL , EXTRA D 3, ETC. EVERYTHING YOU SAID TO DO I HAVE BEEN DOING FOR A LONG TIME YET MY LEVELS DO NOT COME DOWN. I HAVE ASTHMA, ALLERGIES, FIBROMYALGIA, ARTHRITIS, EYE PROBLEMS FATIGUE, AND THE LIST GOES ON. WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO. ????? WISH YOU HAD A PRACTICE HERE IN MIAMI. I WOULD BE AT YOUR DOOR IN A HEART BEAT.
Thank you, barbara, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine. Understand that not all of the doctors listed here will fit your particular needs. Many different medical professionals complete this training, and you will have to do additional research on your own regarding a particular practitioner’s approach and whether or not it fits your specific medical requirements. This may include calling the practioner’s office, visiting his or her website, and/or scheduling a consultation.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
I read this on your blog almost every day , I find amazing the work u do
I have had hives my hole life , it comes and goes probably related to stress level cause that when it comes . Sometimes stays for 20 days … And the is gone till the next time . If is related to stress how can it be treated ?? Because stress is part of life , even thou u react positively towards the stress trying to manage your body still doesn’t acept …
Wait to hear… Tks
hi dr. hyman, thanks to the power of the universe for doctors like you, my hope is that doctors like you band togeather and declare war on the big phrama supported machine, do you know of doctors in my area that think like you. i live in so.ca. thanks you dr. hyman.
I first off would like to say thank you. Your information has helped my clients and also myself.
I have heard various opinions on allergy testing. I have heard blood tests can be inaccurate. I know you speak at IIN but I missed whether you have an opinion on this?
Also, is there a directory for Functional Medicine practitioners across the country?
Thanks for your help.
Yes, I had C-reactive protein done in Germany and they said I showed a lot of inflammation but they didn’t know why. I have been told that I would probably develop lupus, RA, or some other autoimmune disease but have been given no reasons why. I was tested for gluten allergy but did not test positive for that.
This was about 16 years ago and nothing has changed, but I have fibromyalgia and extreme fatigue. I am learning a lot about nutrition and raw foods and green powder drinks and fresh smoothies and see some improvement but not enough.
Could hypothyroidism cause high C-reactive protein results? Problems with energy, weight. I am now 65 and with changes I have made feel much better than when I was younger, but I want to feel heathy again. I tested ok on thyroid tests and I did go to a Dr. who does not use the traditional tests. She is Yale trained but also incorporates alternative methods. Have done a lot of traveling and I tested positive for parasites but was treated for that.
Answer to your question – YES…………Thank you for caring about others and doing something. I have seen you on 2nd Opinion here in Rochester, NY and couldn’t believe how disrespectful the other doctors were. You were right on when you approached them with treating the cause and not just the symptoms. Bravo!! You stood up to them. You are a hero for those of us who also want to get well, not just take medicines for the rest of our life to cover up the symptoms. Keep on with your work, commitment and COURAGE.
This article is AWESOME ….;o) THANK YOU Dr. Hyman MD
Thank You for Taking the Time to Write this down for all of us who do care about taking our health back!! And it does take the individual to care enough about themselves, to make the changes to improve their life.
Thank you for your article about inflammation. Yes, I think this is my problem. Now I want to learn more to correct the problem. I also wonder if my dental fillings are giving me mercury poisoning. How do I get tested for that?
HI DR HYMAN,
WELL, I HAVE VERY VERY PAINFUL BOTH HANDS &
IT’S HURT MORE TO SIGN LANGAUE AND MOVE FINGERS TOO.
EVERY MORNING I WAKE UP –IT’S WORSE TO MOVE AROUND !!!
WHO TO ASK FOR C-REACTIVE PROTEIN TEST ?
PRIMARY DR, DIABETIC DR, HAND DR OR ELSE DR ????
I TAKE INSULIN 75/25 AND LEVOTHROXINE SODIUM 112 MG.
I STOP TAKE LYRICA AND AMITRIPTYLINE BECAUSE IT MAKES IT WORSER.
HOW CAN I STOP PAIN ?
DO I NEED TO TAKE VICODIN ? I HEAR THAT VICODIN IS TOXIC –IS IT TRUE ?
Thank you, Wendy, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Hi,
Thanks for this informative info. I don’t need the c-reactive protein test. I KNOW I have 3 chronic diseases involving inflammation. I have been frustrated that none of my specialists seem to look beyond their own specialty to recognize that there must be an underlying problem related to imflammation. I’ve been on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/ for 2 years now, and I’ve never felt healthier. The diet is very similar to your recommendations. Unfortunately though at least 2 of the 3 diseases are still present and accounted for (though much, much better). I’m trying to get more aerobic exercise in, because I’ve noticed that when I do it regularly I notice a big difference in general wellbeing. I will stick with the diet though. It took me 40 years to get to the state I’m in, so it makes sense that it may well take several years to eliminate the inflammation.
Hi: Read the foregoing. I was diagnosed with SLE after exposure to pesiticide(s), and suffering weeks of unknown symptoms or the causes thereof. My ANA came back many times ove rthe normal ration (1:6000+) for Lupus at the time. Several years later, when I went back to college to finish my education, they had those rules about people born before a certain year had to be re-vaccinated. Guess who was old enough? You got it. My rheumatologist at the time said it would be fine, even though I argued that vaccines were only supposed to be given to people with fully functioning immune systems – at that point I was considered severely immuno-compromized. I had to get the shots to finish my education.
Right after vaccinations were done, I got much worse, to walking with a cane (I was in my 30′s!) My rheumatologist at the time said there was nothing more to be done. I switched doctors, as that was unacceptable to me. Next stop: more blood tests because the new Dr. said I wasn’t exhibiting the usual visual cues for SLE. Tests came back: Scleroderma/RA secondary Fibromyalgia. THis is where I stand today. I’d love to hear your take on this. My last rheumatologist (who just passed away at Xmas time) said he wasn’t even sure I ever had SLE. Ndevertheless, I continue to suffer. thanks for you input.
Thank you,MOrgana, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Oh, for a timeline: the SLE was dx’d in 1989. The change was in early 1990′s. They continue to this day, and I am now going on 53.
Father and aunt, his sister to be 101 and 103, neither were ever sick and very active. She skied every day of every season NH’s Canon Mt. until refused her season pass because she refused to purchase new equipment with “self-braking” saying she had never lost a ski on the slopes.around the world. Dad hiked the hills and by-ways until locked down at 99 for dementia issues. Dad was a Dartmouth man and she a grad of Wellsley. Mom died at 87 having survived radical cancer surgery and disfigurement of her face some 35 years earlier with her mother having lived to 98 healthy. I have nine children, ten term pregnancies and too in good health with only a mycro-value prolapse. Where and how should I track C-reactive testing? Weight 108-10, age 72 and brisk walk 2miles 3-4 x week depending on weather.
Carolyn Cate says:
February 26, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Father and aunt, his sister to be 101 and 103, neither were ever sick and very active. She skied every day of every season NH’s Canon Mt. until refused her season pass because she refused to purchase new equipment with “self-braking” saying she had never lost a ski on the slopes.around the world. Dad hiked the hills and by-ways until locked down at 99 for dementia issues. Dad was a Dartmouth man and she a grad of Wellsley. Mom died at 87 having survived radical cancer surgery and disfigurement of her face some 35 years earlier with her mother having lived to 98 healthy. I have nine children, ten term pregnancies and too in good health with only a mycro-value prolapse. Where and how should I track C-reactive testing? Weight 108-10, age 72 and brisk walk 2miles 3-4 x week depending on weather.
Thank you, Carolyn, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Hi Dr. Hyman, I was reading this article on Inflammation. I have rheumatoid arthritis ( severly) , I am walking very slowly with a cane with alot of stiffness and pain in my knees, ankles,bottom of feet are numb, elbows,shoulders, fingers ( i wear a brace at night for fingers so they don’t get any worse crippled) and wrists and have been trying different all natural alternatives for 1 and 1/2 years now . I am on Omega -3′s, ( 6 capsules a day, 1200 mgs per 2 capsules) vitamin D3 ( 5,000 iu’s a day) when i feel like i am coming down with a cold , i will take 10,000 iu’s of D3 a day ) I am on a multi-vitamin from Melaleuca ( 2 a day as recommended ) I just started taking Cetyl-Myristoleate 1,100 mg 6 capsules a day. And i am taking 1,500 Chondroitin & 1,200 Glucosamine a day …ugh! Plus i am on a gluten free diet , the only sugar i get is fruit , I drink reverse osmosis water , i eat just barely steamed veggies and try to eat alot of raw veggies and sunflower seeds and almonds . I eat turkey or chicken once a week . No red meat or pork ! I eat baked yams . salads with vinegar dressing. I have started taking 1 Tablespoon of Honey in warm water with a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon ( i was told this will help with inflammation also) UGH!! I am doing all the right things but , no improvements . Oh and i am also doing the hands on healing and the heated rocks on the joints …ugh!! HELP!! : (
Thank you, Sharlotte, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
My husband and I were on the UltraMetabolism initial diet for about 3 months. We enjoyed the food, felt good, and both lost weight–noticeably belly fat!! Then we “slid” into and through Christmas and lost track of our well-being. I’m getting back into the plan, but having to do it on my own for right now.
I strongly recommend that people definitely do weight-bearing exercise. When I visited my regular physician at the peak (valley?) of my weight loss, my BMI was actually 1 point HIGHER at 140 pounds than it had when I was 160. Definite bummer. So when I get done here, I’m on my way down to use the Nordic Track and work some with weights. Time to get that in my regular schedule.
I reduced my CRP level from 4.4 to 1.1 (Cdn markers) in 1 month by taking
2 Tumeric, 2 Serrapeptidase, 2 Bromelain in the am and again in pm. Also
took probiotics, multi-vits, general enzymes, etc. I was already off gluten
(self diagnosed). Stopping gluten healed 40 yrs of heart-burn within days, bloating gone, no more stomach pains, constipation, etc. It all really works,
and for me, so very quickly.
Thank you for all your info Dr. Hyman.. love watching you on PBS, and have
read your books. Regards, Anne
This is probably the best article on inflammation I have ever read! Thank you for that. I, and many people I know, now have had lifelong Late Stage Neurological Lyme Disease…which is ALL about inflammation. We’re are constantly battling infection and inflammation caused by the Lyme & co-infection bacterias. But I’ve never heard of the C-reactive protein test.. have you worked with Lyme patients? As most of us doing only Alternative treatment are working at living anti-inflammatory lifestyles I am wondering if this test would be beneficial for us?
Hi Dr. Hynan,
firstly: I am delighted to see a doctor promote all this! It’s a great improvement for all mankind when doctors start to take an interest in the well being and health of their patients instead of prescribing drugs. Wonderful!
I am practicing a healthy life style for over 25 years now and share my knowledge with people and I can only agree with the cause of diseases and the individual diagnosis. I do not agree with taking in the multivitamins as in my experience taking them is not beneficial as many of them contain Vit A and E. Not everyone needs them and I prefer to recommend a healthy diet and take some basics like Magnesium, Zinc, VIt D (sunshine exposure) and so forth. I also feel that taking Calcium is not necessary in most cases as the level of Magnesium is important to digest the Calcium from our food properly. Once that level is ok someone with a balanced diet will not need Calcium extra.
It seems calcium does clogg the blood vessels that’s the point I am coming from
Again: thank you very much for you responsible work and sharing here with everyone!
Brigitte
Thank You for helping people understand that they can change their health by changing what they eat and just moving more. This really should be the focus of the health industry not just taking meds to mask the symptoms.
I too want to thank you for I’ve had some issues but the one I am thinking about right now is my vision getting fuzzy. Maybe the supplements I’m taking are synthetic and damaging my liver? I’m only 10 lbs overweight but the weight seems to be getting more and more and I wans’t sure why cause I eat as you said to.
Hi, I wanted to share my story. Im a 42-yr old woman who paid for my own bloodwork to be done independent of my physician;
Id gone semi-vegeatraian and wanted to know whether I was deficient in important nutrients. Well, I found out that and MUCH more–my inflammatory profile is at a value 5 times what is optimal or healthy for me!
I dont have any outward signs or symptoms but suspected something wasnt right..and I now question the gluten factor through reading articles like this one.
I am on the way to implementing the protocol advised me, which mirrors Dr. Hyman’s, and feel fortunate to have pursued this information for my better health in the future.
Thank you to you, Dr. Hyman, and all the physicians who are willing to practice “outside the box” so to speak, for your patients’ benefit, not that of the pharmaceutical industry!
Hi,
Yes, I think that inflammation is at the core of health issues that I have. I will ask to have a c reactive protein test but they may not do it. I have severe food allergies. After the skin test the doctors of a renowned west coast hospital sent me on my way. No further visits necessary. I have observed that the only thing that most doctors know is how to dispense medication. It is as if they will be more susceptible to libel if they prescribe holistic remedies (i.e. ear oil and massage for ear infections) than if they prescribe drugs. The repercussions of drugs have a certain immunity to litigation. AND drug companies are courting the doctors. I have seen it in my daughter’s neurologists office. There is a drug co. rep. there EVERY time we have an office visit!
I’d like to read you article on the grass fed fish but not in the huff post. Where else can I find it.
Thank you
Thank youTom, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. This is the link to Grass Fed Fish: http://drhyman.com/blog/2011/02/24/grass-fed-fish-restoring-health-and-ecosystems/. In the future, you can search drhyman.com for articles by inputting your topic and the article will come up for you.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dear Dr. Hyman,
In 2008, I suffered a torn meniscus in my left knee, following a car accident. The doctors ignored it at the time of the accident even though I complained. I was riddled with inflammation and could barely move for weeks. Over the course of the past three years, I requested 2 MRI’s. The first specialist told me he would scrape my kneecap, which was not the issue. The second MRI resulted in the doctor saying he would not do the surgery, since I did not opt for it the first time. The family doctor, fresh from Medical School said to do what most people do…just live with it. Consequently, I have structural imbalance, had lots of chiropractic (did not help), orthotics and some massage therapy, until I ran out of coverage. The condition persists today. I am not overweight at any given time by more than 5 or so pounds. I eat mostly organic and add healthy supplements that are carefully selected. What would be my next step? Thank you
Thank you, Veronica, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dear Dr. Hyman
I am in chronic inflammation since 2003. my first abnormal CPK was in 1990, elevated at 300. i was 30 yrs old. In 2003, I was hit with major inflammation with many complicating symptoms to numerous to list right now. I went through 14 specialists while my CPK ranged from 450 to 1,400. Prednisone helped slightly, I had many diagnosis from specialists including polymyosits, fibromyalgia, myalgia, none were correct. I have had 3 muscle biopsies all proved to be abnormal, but there was no concrete diagnosis. Also have had skin tests, lyme disease with false positives, false positives for others. I went to Mayo clinic and saw many specialists, but none coordinated their diagnosis. I lived through what you describe in this blog. I have now been diagnosed with diabetes. My biggest complication is that I am exercise intolerant, even mild exercise, inflames my body and I am put into almost an unconsious state, losing reasoning, fatigue, heart palpitations, needing two days of rest, muscle rest.
By the way, I am seeing a gastroenterologist for GERD since 1994, a endochronologist for diabetes/low hormones, having trouble with lung capacity and thinning hair. I was always treated for symptoms, but not the cause. I have never had interleukin 6 tests. My diet is a mess, trying to manage all that ails me. My muscles respond to carbs, bananas, OJ. What a mess. I could you any assistance you may have, thank you.
JA
Thank you, J.A., for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Here’s what inflammation has done to my life. I can no longer work, exercise, dance, go out socially, walk any distance, focus to read for pleasure, sing, maintain certain relationships–even go to church. I can’t go anywhere that I might have to breathe perfume, smoke, cleaning chemicals, air fresheners, incense, extreme heat or cold, bright lights, loud noises, molds, walk up/down steps, sit on hard,/straight backed seating, or stand for any length of time….and more. After toxic exposures, my health took a downward spiral resulting in complete disability–extreme fatigue, muscle pain and weakness, organ and joint pain, sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, NASH, cognitive dysfunction (memory deficits, confusion, difficulty concentrating, chemical migraines, visual disturbance, cataracts, digestive problems (IBS, gallbladder removed, diverticulosis, acid reflux, extreme gas/bloating, and more), hair loss, nail splitting/ridges/poor growth, bronchitis and pneumonia, sore throats, loss of singing voice, raspy voice, choking on food/drink, small airway obstruction, (already had asthma), shortness of breath upon exertion and following exposures, rapid weight gain (over 130 lbs–40lbs in the first 2 months), sensitivity to chemicals, smoke, dust, mold, metals, etc., inability to walk for more than a few yards without taking a break (use a cane); use a cart for extended ambulation, cataracts removed (blurry vision despite lens for astigmatism, heel spurs removed and grown back, warts removed and grown back, organs so painful I put clay poultices on them for temporary relief, had mercury removed from teeth and teeth with root canals pulled (they had large cysts on their roots), have skin rashes and growths, need orthotics due to plantar fascticis (sp?), sleep apnea, and on and on and on. gluten, soy and dairy intolerance..food allergies….
I’ve tried to follow an organic raw food diet, but my fatigue, pain and weakness–and cognitive problems get in the way. When I followed your books food plan for a month (my son got me the book and helped) I did notice an improvement in symptoms, but I can’t do the food prep and my son lives too far away and works 2 jobs. He helps so much already. I have special supplements including good probiotics–am supposed to follow Grace Ziems protocdol for persons who have had toxic mold and chemical exposures. I do as much of that as my energy allows–very inconsistent at present. Am trying to find a new rental house away from others use of chemicals/smoke from chimneys, etc., but so nothing in my price range. I can’t live in apartment type places because others personal habits affect my ability to heal–whether it is noise level, perfumes, pesticides, cleaning products, fireplaces, candles–I need a place away from toxins, structurally sound, all electric heat and appliances, with a washer and dryer room, a ramp or no steps, good insulation from the elements, no mold and high enough elevation so there is no flooding when it rains. Being on disability, I have limited income. I used to work as a psychologist,–some things I used to do: family outings/activities, aerobics, running/jogging, had an active social life (including a special man), dancing, reading, theater, singing, community involvement (groups/clubs), church, movies, traveling, picnicing, fixing nutritious meals, attending a health/nutrition group that focused on alternative medicine and so much more. Now, wearing clothing is painful and I spend 80% of my day lying flat or reclining because I’m sooo tired. I haven’t given up hope. I’m a surviver, but i want to be a thriver instead. My brain has answers still in it, but my body isn’t in sync. Back when I lived where I could get discounted massages, I’d leave feeling like I could get my health back–my spirit lifted (endorphins?), and a temporary boost to range of motion I’ve made and used checklists, to help me recall my treatments and healthy behaviors, but it is all only as good as having all pieces of it together at the same time. Healthy housing, maintaining treatments and healthy foods, etc) If I could start every day with it all together, I believe I could get well enough to dance again…
On the weekend I took a food intolerance test and discovered that I have a problem with a few common foods. It made me wonder just how many other people go through their whole life with no idea what might be causing them problems. Even relatively innocuous foods like cows milk and egg yokes can cause very wide ranging symptoms (including inflammation) if they are not tolerated by your body.
Thank you for this informative and enlightening information. No, I’ve never had a C-reactive protein test. I have Hashimotos Disease, High Blood Pressure and Lactose Intolerance. In July last year, I had my gall bladder removed, consequently, I now have a weight problem. I am also post menopausal. Is this blood test a ‘normal blood test’? I’ve never heard of this before now. I would dearly love to reduce the medication I am presently taking.
I was referred to this article through a friend. I shall make a concerted effort to continue following your posts.
Thankyou. I know I need to improve my lifestyle and diet but like so many others, most days I feel so lethargic and just cannot be bothered. I would dearly love to feel energetic and ‘alive’.
My CRP is normal but sed rate is a 118. What does this mean in relation to inflammation
Totally agree with all the above. Many have absorption issues too and I would strongly suggest taking Betaine HCL with pepsin which aids absorption of protein, carbs, fats and starches. This helps with acid reflux and I’ve found since taking this, I am now absorbing all vitamins, nutrients from my diet (which I wasn’t before). This is extremely important as you do want to absorb the benefits from following a healthy diet. Also, to help modulate your immune system from being out of whack or out of balance I would like to recommend that people look into taking Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). This helps control inflammation and boosts endorphins to regulate the immune system.
I agree that you are right on! Exercise, eat clean, low stress…the keys to a happy, healthy life. I came across your blog by searching for an answer to my plaque psoriasis, over active immune. Do you have any suggestions?
I have just begun a new regimen of gluten free, dairy and soy free diet as a result of hair analysis performed by a doctor. I was wondering if that kind of analysis could determine what allergens or sensitives I have? Or is it likely that only a blood test or food elimination process could determine that? I have eaten healthfully for a long time ie., high fiber, no sugars or refined carbs, etc. but have severe inflammation that feels like a burning down my left side. And I need to lose quite a bit of weight that my body does not want to give up.
What is the best approach? I have recently done a lot of blood work and I am not on any medications but synthroid and those tests are in the normal range.
Thank you
Thank you, Ellen, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
When I saw the title of this article, I thought it could help me. But nothing addressed the burning I am experiencing. I have chronic fatigue, depression and anxiety, severe osteo-arthritis in my upper neck and back sleep apnea (being treated), and bipolar disorder. The burning I experience is like the feeling of chapped skin allover, and a feverish mental state that makes me feel like am getting too close to hell. The only relief is hard exercise or sleep. I usually occurs right after sleep, but not always. Curiously, it often happens after I eat an orange and then take a nap. I think it is inflamation. I think it may be mold, or allergy but I don’t have the energy or focus to fight it. I certainly don’t have the money.
I have been turned down for SSI and am too poor to see a doctor. Because I am saving up money and have too much in savings, I can’t get help from the government programs. I am torn between saving my meager 10 grand nest egg on doctors and building a future for my kids. So there is my sob story and why I am trying to treat myself using the internet. Don’t know where to start and what to try first.
I have stopped gluten, and only eat milk with yogurt. I found some black mold in my bathroom under the vanity in the back, and washed it out with bleach and Lysol and then became VERY sick with the above burning symptoms. But I think it might have been the bleach and lysol that made me sick ’cause I didn’t wear gloves. Anyway I am focusing on the black mold now.
Thank you, Phillip, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dr. Hyman, I am a 77 year old black male with type 2 diabetes, hypertensin and inclined to suffer from gout and bronchitis. Recently I find that I have a lot of mucus in the system, which I am constantly coughing up or blowing my nose. I have been told also sufer from sleep apnea prescribed a cpap machine which I have not used in over 9 months.
I just read about the C-reactive protine test, and when I see my endocrinologist on Tuesday April 12th I will ask to have this test done.
Like most I have a battery of doctors – Internal Medicine, Endocrinologist, Hematologist, and Urologist and I also see an Opthalmologist (he did my cataract surgery 9 years ago but is also treating me for glaucoma. They all interact with each other in the treatment, but yet I feel more can be done. When you are sent to a dietician they usually tell you a set of gooblydock which leaves one more puzzled than before.
Are there any suggestions you can give someone like me. Thanks for your post.
Thank you, Hubert, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
THANK YOU FOR EDUCATING US.
I HAVE BEEN PREACHING the inflammation doctrine to deaf ears for many years.
At least one of my doctor’s had read the Jupiter Study – but they all shrug their shoulders when I ask them what could be the cause of my abnormal ESR, my c-reactive being 4 (they do not think that high) and my abnormal ANA.
Recently I had to have my 15 year old daughter’s ESR and c-reactive done.
Her’s was in the high ranges, just like mine. Again, a shrug of the shoulders from the doctor. Well a 15 year old who has eaten healthy all her life should not have these markers out of range! Definitely downstream!
We eat a v. healthy, low gluten, mostly organic, high fiber diet. I have always been health conscious.
The one factor we do share in common: tick bites.
We were bitten dozens of times, both of us treated for Lyme disease. We seem well enough (I do wonder about our cortisol) but both have arthritic “feelings” in our joints.
Please keep spreading the word and the work of Functional Medicine. We really need to hear from you here in my current home – Canada. such approaches on the part of MD’s here are completely verboten. simply not tolerated. I hope to see the day when the entrenched culture of allopathic downstream thinking changes.
Frankly I think the change will occur when medical students are required to take more anthropology, more rhetoric, more history of medicine courses. Myopia might be the heart of the problem.
Can arthritis cause inflamation and swelling feet and ankles?
I recently asked my doctor to check my C-reactive protein and was shocked o have it come back over 20. He sent me to a cardiologist and I’m in the process of going through cardiac tests. I am overweight and have had some skin rashes and fungus on a toenail. I am fairly active going to the gym 2 or 3 times a week and yoga 1 or 2 times a week and walking when the weather is nice. I don’t eat a lot of processed food. What else should I do?
Thank you, Lynn, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
I was tested for C Reactive Protein and it was 16.8 which is very high. I have felt very tired and achy for a while now. I don’t know how to explain it other than to say it feels like my insides have a temperature. I am constantly thirsty, I feel unhealthy. I have tried to eat healthy. I have eliminated sugar from my diet , as well as starches. I eat berries, fish, chicken, lean beef, salads, vegetables, and I rarely eat bread. When I do eat bread it is whole grain. I drink tons of water. I am thirsty all the time and I feel like I am burning up inside if I don’t have a cold bottle of water to drink. My hands swell, my joints hurt, and I don’t feel like I am breathing deeply or taking in enough oxygen. I don’t know how to convey the feeling. I have had irritable bowel syndrome most of my life and I started taking psyllium husks every day and it did help with the IBS. I feel horrible most of the time and I have no energy at all. I love to exercise and ride my bike, but for the past year I have been feeling worse and have given up exercise except for the exercise I get at work. What can I do to target the inflammation and get rid of it? I take vitamin D every day and Omega 3.
Thank You!! I think I can help my doctor now. For the past few years I have been diagnosed with asthma, diabetes, arthritis and acid reflux. I have gained a lot of weight over the years as well. I started having what I thought were hot flashes and night sweats where I wake up and I as well as my sheets are soaking wet even with the air (60 degrees) and fan on. My doctor ran the blood test and found my inflammation level to be extremely high. Now we are trying to find the cause of the inflammation.
I have just been diagnosed with MS. I am unable to work or drive. I have been reading your work. Can you please, please offer me help/advice. I teach evolutionary medicine and I am convinced that I can beat this thing through my diet and life changes.
Please send me an email.
Best, Rebecca
Thank you, Rebecca, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Rebecca I am interested to know what you have found out for your MS. I also have MS and believe there has to be a way to beat this naturally!
Great article! It is amazing that a plant-based, whole food diet can cure so many chronic diseases but most patients are not given that option or information, they are just given another prescription to deal with another symptom.
My husband and I did a complete diet makeover after his heart attack last year. Miraculously, all of our allergies, rashes, digestive issues, headaches and sleep issues disappeared within a few weeks in addition to achieving over a 50% decrease in cholesterol and LDL levels. And, we lost over 70 pounds combined and are now back to our college weights with more energy than ever!
I wish I would’ve know years earlier there was an easy remedy to all of our various ailments! Thanks so much for a great website to get the word out!
My oldest child, is being treated for food intolerance, he is off gluten/dairy/soy.
He is being treated by a functional medicine at this time. However, my child, can not tolerate any kind of fish oil, tuna, krill. They tried sunflower and flax oil. He breaks out in hives within 24 hours. The dr. is struggling to figure out why or what to give as oils are so essential. Is there a resource or a reason why, this is happening, or where to go to find an oil he can tolerate. Any feedback is appreciated. Thank you
Thank you, Healing123, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Thank you for this artical. For the past 30 years I have had pain over myentire body. I have gone to 25 to 30 different doctors. No one seems to be able to find out the cause. I just had blood tes that cost over $1000,00. Every thing came back normal. The Dr. just scratched her head.I have an appt. whith her next week and am going to ask for the blood test C-reactive protien and see what it will show. I am 75 and love to work. Things have gotten to the point that I hate to do anything because of the after effects, Pain.
Again, thanks for your help.
Dear Dr. Hyman, I have been reading about CRP for sometime (probably in your news letters). I requested my primary care doctor to check my CRP and his reponse was that he would be happy to do it, but there is no protocol that he knows of as to what to do about it. I am sure I have a problem since most cartlidge in my body is disapearing. My discs in my spine are paper thin – (stenosis surgery from L1 -S1 + T10 – 12 and had a knee rplacement due to loss of cartlidge. Now I am going in for a hip replacement – due to loss of cartlidge. Other than that I am perfectly healthy. No medication at all – only 5mg Zocor/D
Could all these joint problems be caused by high CRP? What is considered high?
I sure would like to know what I can do to stop any further degeneration of whatever cartrige I have left?
Hi Metal knee guy, there are some references in this article that address your comment: http://drhyman.com/blog/conditions/why-cholesterol-may-not-be-the-cause-of-heart-disease/.
We cannot offer medical advise over the Internet but hope this website can provide some answers for you to seek the help you need as well as reading the comments from people who might have similar issues to you.
If you would like to see a practitioner of functional medicine please check out: http://www.functionalmedicine.org.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Would you join me in asking our legislators to fund medicare with a junk food tax?
Also, many Medicare Advantage plans won’t cover that test. Until our legislators are on board with natural preventative medicine, the health of our citizens will continue to decline and only the health of the pharmaceutical industry will improve.
I have just been diagnosed with skoliosis at 77 yrs old have high blood pressure and cholesterol and with the medications I still hurt all over. I have been introduced to a operation extreme lateral interbody fusion and would like to know if i should a second opinion and am I to old for that? I would like to decrease some of the pain. I am an active older person and this has knocked me for a loop.I am allergic to some medications and i reall y dont like taking all kinds of medicine. I do have a primary doctor but I want to know if maybe these alternative things would help me at all? thank you or listening . carol
Thank you, Carol, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical that cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. This site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
I am a new patient at the Ultrawellness Center and just beginning my journey. I knew already that my issues were based on severe inflammation. As I was reading the example of a patient you wrote about. Of all of the things you said, of which I say…. Amen! The thing that really got my attention was your question to him…… So why is your immune system so PISSED OFF! My direct response was: Yes, my immune system is pissed off. Louise Hay’s book, You can heal your life indicates that Inflammation (on the emotional level) is created by fear, seeing red, inflamed thinking …. anger in other words. I am a certified Holistic Health Practitioner so I know that the mind, body, and spirit of the person must all be address. Yet, I could not help myself…thus Dr. LePine…who is, by the way, excellent. So there are millions of us walking around this earth in such denial of our pissed offness and how to process it. I knew I was angry but till my immune system got so pissed off….. I numbed it with food and pushed it down and could not really acknowledge the depth of that pissed offness! I knew this all before but now I really get it. Thank you for educating the public and letting people know that there are ways to truly get to the root cause and heal. While the mainstream just keeps treating the symptoms. This does not clearly work or we would not continue to get new symptoms and new health issues as time goes on in our add another pill society. When the medication itself many times necessitates another pill for the side effects of the first and so on. Where does it end? More pills is not the answer. You, Dr. Le Pine and others like you are now here to educate, diagnosis, and guide us on a path to self-healing. You get to the root cause and give the tools we need to regain health and well-being. Then we have to grow up and accept responsibility for what we created and change our live style to achieve our goals. Thank you for offering this opportunity. Your ultrawellness center was really my last hope….. I saw the picture of my future and I came there to take my life back and change that future to a bright, healthy one. I have hope again.
I had to find out about curing myself from Crohn’s disease and it’s taken me 5 yrs. to do it, learning the hard way reading non-medical blogs (BTVC/SC, GAPS on Yahoo) We need more doctors like Dr.Hyman, who get it and will spread the word on how to keep yourself healthy and not get to the disease state.
Way to go Dr. Hyman ! keep up the good work and love reading your column on Huffpost .
All the best !
Umm, I don’t know if this will really work but I am willing to give it a try. I have high blood pressure, carpel tunnel in both hands, lost 2 inches in height due to menopause, ringing in the ears, knee problems. I try to work out 2 to 3 days and lift weights. I eat fiber cereal, wheat bread, 2% milk, chicken, ground turkey, wild salmon. I try to buy fresh vegetables but mostly buy process. I am a have not and can only afford what I can afford. So living such a healthy life will only go so far. You have to be materialistically rich in order to truely, truely live a ultimate healthy life. I see it no other way and from what I have observed in this life it points to just that. If most of you succeed in doing the above then surely you have the means which is money. When I was a child my mother had a garden now it seems as if it is stupid to have one. It makes since to have a garden. Too grow your own food and know where it comes from. The thinking of this day and age is awfully strange to me.
Good Afternoon,
I have diagnoses that are being treated by physicians well respected by colleagues in their field. I see a General Pracitioner, Urogynocelogist, Dermatologist, and a Rheumatoligist. I have been diagnosed with: Hypertension (mild), Stress & Urge incontinence ( have a newly implanted bladder sling implanted in 11/11/with poor results). I also have been diagnosed with Hypothyriodism for some years now and treated with 25mgm of Cytomel daily and have a terrible time keeping my weight down. I have gained 45 pounds in the last 30 years or so. I am 74 y/o. The most bothersome condition is the Psoriatic Arthiritis for which I take weekly Enbrel injections and have been taking Enbrel for about 5-6 years now. It does control my symptoms well. However, I have had to stop it for the last three weeks due to secondary infection in operative area of my foot when I had hammer toe and bunion surgery. I’m starting to experience skin symptoms of two days ago and plan to contact my Derm on Monday since she is the one who prescribed it. I also checked w/her before I stopped it. My Rheumotologist sugggested that I stop the Enbrel two weeks pre-op & post- opertatively for surgery on 6/7/11. I know this is a long summary, but would appreciiate some further advice. I am concerned about my weak immune system now and am aware that the biological drug of Enbrel does affect that. I was on Medifast last fall and had to stop it after 2 months since I developed intestinal symptoms of soy allergy (abdominal cramping and diarrhea).. I was wondering about a gluten sensitivity. I also am an RN and still am emplyed part-time during the School year. Any recommendations you may have would be appreciated. I need to get ready for school in about 3 three weeks. Have a great evening. Sandra Wilson, RN, M.Ed.
Hi Sandra, thanks for your interest in Dr. Hyman’s website. We cannot offer medical advice on the Internet, but invite you to contact the Ultrawellness center if you would like to speak to Dr. Hyman or his staff at the http://www.ultraWellnesscenter.com or call at (413) 637 9991.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Hello Dr. Mark,
I have been reading,listening and watching your video on your web’s site for the pass two years. I was borned in Africa, Nigeria to be precise, I am now base in England for economic reasons. It was on your web’s I frist heard and learnt that debetes can be reversed. People are now having second taught about debetes you don’t have to be on medication before some drop dead.
I have had extremely high CRP levels for a few years now. They have ranged from 22 to 17. This is very alarming to me but no one else seems to agree. I have been placed on a statin as well as high blood pressure medication. I do have a genetic component running on the maternal side of my family. I have tried desperately over the last 10 years to lose weight. It is next to impossible. I have changed my eating habits in the past as well as excercised in conjunction with my diet. I manage to lose around 20-25 and then can’t do anymore. I have tried Weight Watchers as well. No luck. I just discovered Dr. Hyman and hope that he can shed some light on this conundrum. I am extremely frustrated with my doctors, who for some reason, see no alarm in these numbers. I hope by reading Dr. Hyman’s books I will get some answers. Are there any specific tests I should ask my doctor to perform to help me? Thank you for your help.
Hello Ellen, thank you for your interest in Dr. Hyman’s website. Please take a look at this article for a list of tests you can consider: http://drhyman.com/blog/conditions/why-cholesterol-may-not-be-the-cause-of-heart-disease/. You may also find answers on the website, please use the search function and enjoy reading!
Wishing You the Best of Health!
I had a mini stroke in jan 2011, the hosptal didn’t think I had a stroke and didn’t care, This happened on monday and they sent me back to work on wednesday, i couldn’t seem to function. I went to see my family doctor and .he sent me to a nerologist. Who found evidence of my mini stroke. I have been having issues with all over body pain. It started in my joints and seems to be all over now. The doctors put me on cholostrol lowering meds and i started losing my hair. I quite taking it. I have constant heart burn, I don’t eat fried foods and stopped drinking coffee. I am so tired of modern medicine and being treated like just a # , all they seem to do is connect this medicine with that sickness. , then you have another problem. I also had 1/2 of my thyroid removed in 1980 because a cold nodule. I can’t afford to stop working and feel every day like I just want to give up. I struggle with every day. my husband doesn’t seem to understand or believe that I am in as much pain as I say, because the doctors don’t seem to care. HELP!
Hi Karen, if you wish to contact a practitioner of funtional medicine please see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Hi,
I have been reading through lots of your literature and, after four years of fruitless searching for the root cause of my chronic diarrhea, I have come to believe that doctors in the west have it all wrong. The integrated approach is the only way to go – giving medicines instead of looking for root causes will never heal the sick.
I live in Abu Dhabi (in UAE) and have had difficulty finding decent health care there. I wonder if you have any practitioners in the region you could recommend?
Thank you – Mimi
Hi Mimi, thank you for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dear Dr. Hyman: In July 2010 my CRP level was 18!! My Endroconologist and PCP did NOTHING about it! Since that time, I have had lung cancer surgery, a 7 mo. sinus infection and cough since then (have been on antibiotics and other meds for 7+ mos.), have been diagnosed as a Pre-Diabetic. I recently visited a Infect. Dis. Dr. and my immune system level is 686, which is below the bottom of the scale of 700 – 1500 and he will NOT give me treatment to raise the immune system level. I have high chol. and trycliserides. I couldn’t take the med my PCP prescribed and he won’t prescribe anything else. Now I find out that my liver has lesions on it and am going to get a CT Scan today. I may have allergies. No Dr. has referred me to an Allergist. I have herniated discs in my spine and fibromyalgia. I feel miserable most of the time even though I eat a good diet, exercise and rest as much as possible. Can you please help direct me in a positive path to help me feel better. Some days I can hardly get through the day. Thank you very much. Linda Mitchell
Hello Linda, if you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991. If you want to see a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Instinctively, I took my 43-year-old Downs syndrome brother off gluten last year. He had long before lost all his hair, and had a host of other issues our rural doctors ignored. Since then, most of his hair has grown back and his whiskers are returning, and he’s actually absorbing his food. Why are so many doctors so ignorant?
Arrrgghhh!!!! I’m so, so tired being warned about gluten. I’ve been tested, and that doesn’t appear to be the problem, thank God. I don’t know what causes my colitis and its flares, but I sure am stressed as hell, so I’m on a variety of medications, including lexapro, klonopin, and ambien. I can’t eat too many vegetables or fiber, and i will not give up bread or coffee- which doesn’t appear to bother me. Large portions of pasta does, Cjinese food, but not pizza. But please- this fear of gluten, caffeine, dairy has gotten way out of hand.
I have a chronically low WBC & have been trying to get pregnant for 2 years. I took the ALCAT blood test & determined all of my food sensitivities. I took out all 30 something foods for this past year. My acne has cleared & my digestion is very improved but my WBC is still severely low & I am not pregnant. My period are also very irregular. My O2 profusion is also really low so I am currently taking Glutathione Recycler, Glutathione Cream & Nitric Acid daily. I was tested one month into doing this and my levels are improving.
Question: Do you think I should also take out the cross reactor foods you have listed above even though they are on my “approved” list? The only ones I eat are: Coffee, Brown Rice, Corn (occassionally), Chocolate (occassionally) & Tapioca in my coconut plain yogurt.
Could these foods be why my WBC is not improving & I am still not pregnant?
Hi Amy,
we are happy to help you and thank you for sharing your interest in inflammation. There could be several reasons why you are low and yes trigger foods can definetely be causing stress and inflammation on your system, taxing your immunity. Have you thought about doing the UltraSimple Diet? You can learn more about this elimination diet here: http://store.ultrasimplediet.com/ It would be a great way for you to test certain foods. And yes, even a little bit of some of your ALCAT trigger and cross rxtr foods can have an impact.
Other factors that might contribute: inflammatory fats such as trans and saturated fats? Are youu taking an omega 3 supplement? Have you looked into knowing your omeag 3 blood levels? Learn more here: http://store.drhyman.com/Store/Show/SearchResults/814
Hows is your exercise? Are you taking time to practice relaxation- like really actively relax and calm your nervous system? What is the quality of your sleep? Stress plays a HUGE role in your immunity and while we rather not take time to breath and participate in relaxing, we will see a difference when we turn the parasympathetic system on!
You might also want to work with a functional medicine practitoner and check for some hidden or chronic infections with viruses, bacteria, yeasts, or parasites etc. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine. Understand that not all of the doctors listed here will fit your particular needs. Many different medical professionals complete this training, and you will have to do additional research on your own regarding a particular practitioner’s approach and whether or not it fits your specific medical requirements. This may include calling the practioner’s office, visiting his or her website, and/or scheduling a consultation
In good health
• Toxins such as mercury and pesticides
• Mold toxins and allergens
I know that inflamation is a big problem for me. I work with it through diet–which I am very good at, but need to find a way to create a life with less stress. My other problem is lingering low grade infection/virus. This is also better than it has been in the past for me, but comes up from time to time. I recently had to do 2 courses of antibiotics to aleviate my weird symptoms…and after all that, it still was barely touched. Im doing well for the moment, but wondering if there are suggestions for that cause of inflamation–the infection/virus?
Hi Laura, thank you for your comment. We cannot offer advice over the Internet but welcome you to contact the UltraWellness Center for assistance or you can check out the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website for someone nearby.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Hello! What is the acceptable range for a CRP test result? I have found information saying no higher than .3, but I do not know if this is correct. Thanks in advance.
My mother had RA and my father died of pulmonary fibrosis. I’ve been recently diagnosed with three autoimmune disorders. I try to keep a healthy lifestyle but I am not winning this battle. Where does genetics fall into place in all of this?
Hello SueL, this is not something we can answer over the internet. You might ask your physician if they have seen a pattern in their research of a genetic component.
Wishing you good health!
I have been tested for CRP and it has been slightly high. My Dr.’s have said that there is nothing to worry about and that most folks have a high CRP. I am on a plant based diet/lifestyle, exercising and following a gluten free diet. What else should I be doing to bring this number down? All of my other numbers from my yearly physical are just about perfect – except this one. I am a 52 year old female.
Hi Maggie,
Have been checked for other autoimmune conditions or food sensitivies/allergies?
Great article, thank you very much!
Due to some extended allergic syndrome and to some reactions I get in real time, I am able to observe directly on my body the mechanism of inflammation. When inflammation occurs, one can observe it easier/faster in his ‘Achile tendon”s areas of the body. For example, eating something I don”t tolerate can trigger sinus pain/sweeling or shortness of breath (cuz I have some respiratory allergic issues) or swelling of my ankle (which is a bit abnormal following an accident). This is a bit fascinating. Some summer, I fall down and got my bleeding knees and even so, I was able to walk a lot (visiting compulsively a lot of places during my hollidays). Still, the 3rd day after getting my knees hurt, I drank milk (I don’t tolerate). Surprise: the next morning my knees were so swollen I couldn’t get down from bed. Maybe I am just a lucky one, with this inflammation less hidden.
My test score was 10. I know it is indicative of a high degree of inflammation which has been a nuisance for many years after a variety of surgeries. I try to maintain the above mentioned diet, am limited in exercising due to 5 back surgeries. What is my greatest concern now is the extreme inflammation of the ankles. I am trying to maintain an upper leg position while I sit and lie down. I take natural anti-inflammatory meds which help somewhat. My stress level is usually to a minimum, only when normal eventual familial events occur to create high levels of stress. Sleep is not a factor of concern since I require the use of oxygen due to sleep apnea. Prior to that I did use natural sleeping pills. I pretty much follow your 7 step suggestions to eliminate inflammation. It seems as though inflammation is a natural part of my system, which truly is not a favorable lifestyle.
also, if you are still having trouble with asthma or sinuses toss out your air freshners immediatly! should be your first step anyway.
Will the C reactive protien test yield incorrect numbers if taken while taken medications for the inflammatory diseases?
Hi Leah,
If the medicines are effecting the immune/inflammation response than crp might be effected. It depends on the medication and other related health issues occuring in the body. In fact some anti-inflamm meds like NSAIDs actually can do more harm than good!
During my annual exam, I was checked for the C-reactive protein and the results were higher than normal . However in the abscence of having any cardiovascular issues and with normal results for cholesterol and other cardiovascular illnesses, my doctor said that he is unsure of if it needs to be treated.
Six months later the C-reactive protein test was repeated and the results are still higher than normal and this value has gone up.
Please can you suggest my options ?
Hi Sandhya,
Thank you for writing in about CRP. We can certainly understand your confusion! While it is great your doc thinks you risk for CVD is low without having any big markers for it, it looks like you still have some apparent inflammation. Regardless of cholesterol, CRP is an important marker from your body giving you the message that there is some stuff going on which needs your attention! What is your diet like? Look out for high glycemic carbohydrates and high fat dairy, meats and vegetable oils and trans fats especially. If these are seen daily in the diet even with “normal” labs it would not be a surprise to see inflammation. How about exercise? Stress relief? Food sensitivities and allergies? Environmental allergies and toxic inputs i.e.: heavy metals, yeast, mold etc.! So, as you can see there are a lot of factors besides the standard tests run for CVD. If some of these underlying issues are not attended to then your body can keep on being inflamed for years until you clear out the root issues. It is always helpful to have a trained medical professional guide you through your health plan. We suggest going to http://www.functionalmedicine.org, scrolling down to locate a practitioner, entering you zip code and selecting a practitioner who best suits your medical needs to provide you the best care. We truly hope you find the solution to lowering your CRP
Yes, I have my rates tested–a couple of years ago. But finally–after reading all the medical articles that I can get my hands on–and also because of a recent bout of a severe allergic reaction–I have put together all my pieces. I had asthma as a kid. I had a slight alopecia a problem in my teens that left later left me with an area that only grow white hair. A few years ago–after visiting a nail salon–I developed weird things happening. Reactive arthritis and a strange indent on lower front legs. Saw numerous rheumos and dermos. Some wanted me on Plaquinil. Then, on my own, I started to just get better. But then this Christmas, had an allergic reaction to something–got a swelled eyelid, eye doctor put me on a penicilan which I became allergic to. Inner arm got itchy and blistery. Went to a new dermo–she said I had a severe reaction to the augmentin. Said I was hypersensitive. Checked me and also said I had dermographics (writing on skin results in raised areas immediately)–said my reaction to the augmentin could be fatal next time. On prednisone now. I have finally put all the pieces together on my own for my most recent serious attack. I believe the artificial tree in the bedroom caused the eye issue (which then became more serious after being put on a penicillian product that I was allergic to)–because even with the prednisone–I was waking up to very itchy throat and neck area. YES, its all clear now. I also Know that I have the HLAB-27 gene which also can trigger inflammation. I should go into the medical field with all that I have read and uncovered by myself. Once, I get through this new reactive episode–I am going to very carefully guard my over active immune system. And next time before going to any new eye doctor, etc–I will take Claratin or just Bendadryl to calm things first! I will also follow all the health tips here. Its weird to think that on one hand its great that my system is so fine tuned trying to fight things–but scary to think that it apparently does not know when to stop. Dr. Hyman please feel free to contact me should you want to know more about my situation–I am a perfect example of an individual of an accute autoimmune system. I would be interested in learning more about natural ways to fight inflammation that would also not cause any additional allergies or problems at the same time!
I am writing to you for your advice. I am a 40 yr woman who was dx.’d with Hashimotos thyroid disease in 1999 and than had thyroid cx. in 2000 with a full thyroidectomy and radiation ablation after sx. I was told radiation/radioactive I-131 may have caused me to get Lupus and now Sydrogrens. I have many restrictions to my diet because of these diseases. I should avoid soy products and cauliflower/broccoli because of my thyroid issues and no night shade veggies because of the lupus . My bloodwork and lab tests confirm lupus, sydrogrens, hypothyroidism but my CRP is within normal range. I am overweight currently and exercise regularly but still not losing weight or feeling less fatigued. I would like to know what foods to avoid to prevent “Flare ups” and avoid the need to take pred nisone. If there are any other lab tests you recommend please let me know. thank you.
Hi Donna,
Thank you for your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. So sorry to hear all of your symptoms, it sounds like you are tired of them too! We cannot give you the proper care you need via the internet but do hope you receive the attention you need from a qualified practitioner soon. To locate a doctor who practices functional medicine like Dr. Hyman, go to http://www.functionalmedicine.org and scroll down to where it says “locate a practitioner” and enter your zip. Progress accordingly from there.
In good health
Very interesting. I am a yoga teacher who has a wellness centre; I give food intolerance (IGg antibodies) blood tests and have a major interest in holsitic health. I am beginning to see a link between back pain and an over active immune system – or possibly candida/intolerances. Have you noticed a link between them? I am talking about back pain that tends to come in ‘flair ups’ – a constant debilitating pain that indicates inflammation and is usually helped in the short term by treating with ice etc. Thanks
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Yes there possibly could be a link between the two and we always support the best hygiene of gut flora and maintaining healthy bacteria levels. As you know, immunity is a key player in inflammation and thus pain, so the better care we can take of our immunity (gut, digestion) the better!
In good health
Lizzy
My CRP was checked quite by accident. I was having issues with hypoglycemia, and my doc ordered a C-Peptide. The lab tech checked the wrong box. Good thing, though. My CRP was 8. Through other labs, it turns out I have Celiac Disease. Last checked, my CRP was 4 and I feel great. The myriad of symptoms I was experiencing are gone and my intestines are healing well. I am due to have another CRP, and am looking forward to that. As a result of my incident, my doc now has made CRP labs routine for certain patients.
Hi Dr. Hyman,
I’m wondering about your opinion about carageenen and gut inflammation. All almond and rice milks have it as an ingredient.
Thanks,
Ellen
Hi Ellen,
Thank you for your question. Carrrageenan is derived from a seaweed and if not the proper form is used it is actually therapeutic to mucosal membranes. For more information on the therapeutic effects of food please visit: http://store.drhyman.com/Store/List/Coaching-Programs