CRP debate

ronjsteele1

bpetrosky wrote: »

It's pretty alarming that shady supplement sites are new shilling low value blood tests for people to try to self-diagnose their health status. It's pretty clear that they're preying on people who don't have a clue how to vet scientific sources online, just like they have been doing with sketchy supplements for years. With tests, however, people who take the wrong conclusions from the tests can end up harming themselves.

The online lab sites I use are not "shady supplement sites" and don't offer anything but blood work. www.healthcheckusa, www.directlabs. There are others I use, but those are two. Neither sells supplements. Life Extension has a long history in the supplement industry. I don't use their lab orders because others are cheaper, but I wouldn't have an issue using them if they were the only one in existence.

I am thankful for the ability to get blood work that I can order online and have run at a local lab. We use this service all.the.time. It saves us a ton of money by doing it ourselves rather then running to the doctor to get it done. There are a few blood tests I do this way and then take the results to my doctor which she then reviews before renewing my armour. You seem to assume that people using this service have no idea what they are looking for or reading in the test results. I would submit that *most* of the people using this service are either doing so because it's cheaper to have the tests run this way and then take the results to their doctor for review OR, as is my case, have more then average knowledge of the things they are testing for and therefore do understand exactly what the test results are showing. The average joe likely doesn't even know they can get their own blood work run and if they do know it, many would be intimidated by doing so. I have friends that don't do it because they don't know how to read the results and would prefer their doctor do it. And I have friends that have more "expertise" in certain areas then the darn doctor does and I would prefer to go over my results with them if I didn't understand something.

So, no, this isn't alarming. I would not monitor several health markers that I should monitor if I had to go to a doctor to do so. When/if I ever get one that is way off, I will determine if a visit to my physician is in order. Until then, I'm my best own doctor and I'm cheaper then my regular physician as well. I hope they never do away with online blood testing orders.

paperpudding

GaleHawkins wrote: »

healthline.com/health/c-reactive-protein?m=0#overview1

"What is C-reactive protein?
Highlights
A C-reactive protein (CRP) test can help doctors determine your risk for heart disease or stroke.
A Harvard study found CRP to be more effective than cholesterol at predicting coronary issues in women.
Pregnancy, arthritis, lupus, pneumonia, and cancer can cause an especially high CRP......"

To me this sounds like a screening test more like PSA, lipid panels, etc.

At less than $40 out the door it is a good base line screening for most anyone wanting to improve their health with changes of diet and exercise in my view. Yes it does not tell us WHY this marker may be elevated but it is more meaningful than a personal opinion of what is going on inside it seems.

No it is not a screening test like those other tests I mentioned and it is not used for the purposes you mention

As other posters have said, it varies anyway and needs to be seen in context.

There is no point in simply getting a CRP test if you are healthy. It tells you nothing.

and a doctor will never order it a screening test nor as an isolated test without context.

lemurcat12

In fact, from the healthline link:

"According to the Mayo Clinic, the American Heart Association does not recommend the test for general screening of heart disease.....

If you are pregnant or have any other chronic infection or inflammatory disease, a CRP test is unlikely to accurately assess your risk for heart disease. Before having a CRP test, speak to your doctor about any medical conditions that may skew the test results. Since there are other blood tests that can be performed instead, you might wish to forego a CRP test altogether.

Remember that this test doesn’t provide a complete picture of your risk for cardiovascular disease. Your doctor will consider your lifestyle risk factors and family history when determining which follow-up tests are best for you. He or she may also order tests such as an EKG, echocardiogram, stress test, CT scan of the coronary arteries, or heart catheterization."