Understanding Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural response by your body to protect and heal tissues from injury, infection, or disease. It can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test
This test measures the level of CRP in your blood. Elevated CRP levels indicate inflammation in your body.
Types of Inflammation
* Acute inflammation: Sudden and temporary, helps in healing
* Chronic inflammation: Ongoing and potentially harmful, occurs with repeated tissue damage or irritation
Causes of Chronic Inflammation
* Chronic infections
* Autoimmune disorders
* Smoking
* Environmental chemicals
Importance of Bloodwork
Routine bloodwork can detect potential health concerns and track changes over time. It provides insights into:
* White blood cells (infection risk)
* Red blood cells (anemia)
* Hemoglobin (oxygen levels)
* Hematocrit (blood cell concentration)
* Platelets (blood clotting)
Frequency of Bloodwork
* Recommended annually for general checkup
* More frequently for individuals with pre-existing conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes)
Importance of Routine Bloodwork
* Detects early signs of disease
* Monitors progress of ongoing health conditions
* Assesses overall health and well-being
DDxHub is a concentrator that holds a lot of disease descriptions. It relies on the System knowledgebase to diagnose a health condition.
Differential diagnosis Hub is the System distinguishing of a particular disease or health condition from others.