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CRP: What is it?

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:22:33 +0000

What is CRP?
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein that produces the liver when there is inflammation in the body. Therefore we say that it is a marker of inflammation. Because C-reactive protein may be measured by a method “highly sensitive”, we sometimes use the abbreviation hsCRP, but you can also simply use the abbreviation CRP. Inflammation is a way that the body uses to protect themselves from injury or infection and may be caused by smoking, high blood pressure or high blood sugar. An excessive inflammation has been linked to heart disease.

What is the relationship between CRP, inflammation and heart disease?
Heart disease occurs when the blood vessel wall is damaged, which promotes plaque formation. The plaque narrows the inside of blood vessel and may rupture (break), resulting in formation of clots that can clog blood vessels, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. Inflammation has been linked both to the formation of plaques that rupture.

A high CRP level is a sign of inflammation in the body. The high CRP levels are associated with a higher risk of heart disease and its complications (such as heart attack, stroke (stroke), peripheral vascular disease and sudden death from cardiac causes). Measurement of CRP may help you whether you’re at risk for these serious heart problems.

Inflammation (leading to high levels of CRP) -> Complications of heart disease

About 50% of all heart attacks and all strokes occur in people who apparently healthy who have normal cholesterol. Measurement of CRP is a way to recognize some of these people so they can reduce their risk of heart disease before suffering a heart attack or stroke. Therefore it is important to take tests for CRP and cholesterol if your doctor recommends. Ask your doctor whether you should take tests to measure your cholesterol and / or CRP.

What is the current situation in Cambodia for dengue?

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:21:40 +0000

What is the current situation in Cambodia for dengue?
In 2009, dengue was relatively active in Cambodia, compared with previous years. There are currently less than 10,000 cases clinically suspected. The Pasteur Institute has received 50% of requests for analysis of less than last year and three times less than in 2007. This is great news for the country because many lives will be spared this year as dengue fever rages in neighboring Vietnam.

When is the most conducive to this disease?
Dengue spreads mostly during the rainy season, which is in Cambodia for the period from June to November. There are only rare cases of transmission during the dry season.

How is it transmitted?
Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by a mosquito (Aedes aegypti) bites during the day and lives nearby dwellings. The female Aedes lays its eggs in artificial containers created by man (jars used to stockpile water, used tires, plastic bags, coconut empty sub-pots for plants, branch axils of banana, etc. .).

What are the symptoms? Is it fatal?
It is estimated that many cases of dengue fever are asymptomatic or so mild they go unnoticed. But it is very difficult to estimate precisely the number. In classic form, dengue is manifested by high fever, headaches (often located behind the eyes), body aches, fatigue, sometimes nausea and vomiting accompanying malaise. The skin may become covered in places by small red dots (called petechiae) that do not disappear when pressed (unlike the eruptions that occur in the majority of childhood eruptive diseases).
Sometimes bleeding make their appearance. These can be mild (bleeding gums, nose, skin) or more severe (gastrointestinal bleeding, for example). This is called dengue hemorrhagic requiring hospitalization. In severe cases, the patient developed circulatory shock requiring care in intensive care because the prognosis may be involved in Cambodia, these severe forms occur almost exclusively in children.

A jar source of mosquitoes (Photo provided)

How to protect themselves from dengue? Y was there a vaccine?
Currently, there is no available vaccine and effective drug, the only method of control is prevention. That is, individually, to protect themselves from bites by wearing long clothing, use mosquito repellents to disinsect dwellings (taking care to spray in a cool and dark of the house where mosquitoes like to hiding), use of mosquito nets, mosquito traps, etc..
We must also eliminate (in the house and around the house) containers, waste, garbage where mosquitoes can lay eggs. The authorities are trying to promote measures to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in the jars (lids, guppy fish-eating larvae, insecticides, etc..) And spraying insecticides when certain areas are particularly affected.

How do we cure dengue?
We heal by itself. He must take medication against fever and drink plenty to avoid dehydration. Il faut absolument interdire l’usage de l’aspirine car ce médicament aggrave les saignements. Paracetamol is the drug of choice, but it must ensure respect dosages. Hospitals complain many cases of paracetamol poisoning because some parents manage their children from adult doses, which is dangerous.
The infusions are justified only in the hemorrhagic form or circulatory shock. Again, parents and some doctors too often yield to the temptation to put on every infusions that can be dangerous if the volumes are infused too abundant. In all cases, avoid self-medication and consult a doctor who will provide medical monitoring. He may prescribe biological tests to confirm the diagnosis (serology specific detection of virus in the blood) and assess the risk of bleeding by dose of platelets (this review does not permit the diagnosis of dengue, but it can be evocative when blood platelets is reduced in a particular clinical and epidemiological).

Who is most at risk?
In countries such as hyper-endemic in Cambodia but also Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, etc.., Dengue affects mostly Aboriginal children. It is also among the children that are the most serious forms of the disease. Adults in endemic countries are rarely sick. Indeed, once infected with four serotypes of dengue, the body develops a sustainable and protective immunity. However, tourists are immunologically “naive” and find themselves in the same position as young children.

What is your LDL cholesterol and ratio?

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:15:09 +0000

What is your ratio?
The cholesterol test is a simple blood test that measures the rate desdifférents types cholestérolde your blood.

It is nice to know what your total cholesterol, but there are two other important values that you need to know:

LDL cholesterol (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol that can clog your arteries
the ratio TC / HDL (or “ratio”): the ratio between total cholesterol and HDL ( “good” cholesterol that helps clean your arteries)
These 2 values are used to guide your treatment against cholesterol and to ensure that it effectively reduces your risk of heart disease. Your doctor will set different targets depending on your risk of heart disease. The higher your risk, the higher your target will be to lower LDL-C and the ratio TC / HDL-C. It is essential to know ratio and your target to see if your treatment is working. Remember, effective treatment is a treatment that reduces your risk of heart attack or stroke.

Did you know? The ratio TC / HDL-C is a better indicator of heart disease risk than total cholesterol (TC).
It is easy to see why the rate of LDL-C is a target of treatment. The LDL or “bad” cholesterol, clog arteries and is linked to heart disease. But what about the ratio TC / HDL-C? It is found that the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol is a very significant risk of heart disease. In fact, there is a better indicator of the risk of heart disease than total cholesterol. It recognizes that a higher rate of HDL-C may protect against heart disease.

How can we explain it? It is important to remember this: while a total cholesterol higher increases the risk of heart disease, a rate of HDL-C higher under better protection against heart disease. Therefore, the rate of HDL-C is the denominator of the equation the ratio TC / HDL-C, the more this ratio, the higher the ratio is low. So if you have a rate of HDL-C higher your risk of heart disease (indicated by your ratio TC / HDL-C) will be lower. Ask your doctor if your current treatment helps you to lower your ratio.

Reaching your cholesterol targets may reduce your risk of heart disease. Ask your doctor about your ratio and your LDL cholesterol, what are your cholesterol targets and if you’ve reached your target. If this is not the case, ask what you can do to achieve them.

Should you be tested? How often? : cholesterol

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:05:15 +0000

Canadian guidelines on the most recent cholesterol recommended dosage of cholesterol in the following cases:

men over 40 years
Women over 50 years
postmenopausal women (all ages)
Diabetic
People with abdominal obesity (waist circumference greater than 102 cm for men or 88 cm for women – exist lower threshold values for the people of South Asian or East Asian
Smoking
People with hypertension
people with strong family history, that is to say, including family members showed heart disease to a relatively young age (under 55 years for men and less than 65 years for women)
people with physical signs of hypercholesterolemia, such as yellow lesions under the skin or grayish circle around the cornea (the transparent layer of eye)
People with atherosclerosis (narrowing and hardening of the arteries)
people suffering from chest pain on exertion
people whose breath is not normal under the circumstances
men with symptoms of erectile dysfunction (difficulty getting or keeping an erection)
people with chronic kidney disease
People with lupus erythematosus
For those in the groups above, it should make the determination of cholesterol in 1 to 3 years, or more often if the values are abnormal or if treatment is initiated. Your doctor will determine a timetable for the determination of cholesterol based on your age, your general health and whether or not you take a cholesterol-lowering medication (medication to lower your cholesterol).

Your doctor will usually check your blood cholesterol 6 weeks after beginning treatment with a new drug or after a change in dose. Once the appropriate dose is reached, the tests will be every 6 to 12 months.

Even if you do not belong to any of these groups, your doctor may decide to measure your cholesterol if it deems appropriate.

The cholesterol test helps your doctor assess your risk of heart disease and to determine if your treatment is working. Ask your doctor if your blood cholesterol should be measured and, if so, what should be your target cholesterol levels.

What should your target cholesterol

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:02:18 +0000

Your cholesterol target levels depend on your risk of heart disease. Your doctor will calculate this risk based on your age, your gender, your cholesterol and your overall health. You can also determine your own heart disease risk through our risk calculator heart disease.

Table 2 shows the cholesterol targets for each risk category for heart disease. The 2 most important targets are LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL (TC / HDL-C).

Table 2: Recommendations on the treatment of hypercholesterolemia by risk group for heart disease

Risk Group Risk of heart disease over 10 years LDL (mmol / L) ratio TC / HDL-C
Low Risk Less than 10% Apply when the LDL cholesterol is 5.0 or more. Lowering the rate of at least 40%. Apply when the ratio is 6.0 or more.
Moderate 10 to 19% Apply when the LDL cholesterol is 3.5 or more. Lowering the rate of at least 40%. Apply when the ratio is 5.0 or more.
High risk 20% or more * Aim for an LDL cholesterol less than 2.0. Lowering the rate of at least 50%. Aim for a ratio below 4.0.

* The high risk category also includes people with diabetes or atherosclerotic disease (eg., Heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease).

With proper treatment, you can reach your cholesterol targets.
Although triglyceride levels is measured during the determination of cholesterol, the Canadian guidelines on cholesterol can recommend more valuable therapeutic target for triglycerides. However, a triglyceride level of 10.0 mmol / L or more should be treated because of the increased risk of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Triglyceride levels should ideally be below 1.5 mmol / L.

The latest Canadian guidelines recommend cholesterol target values lower than previous values. They may be more difficult to achieve, particularly for persons belonging to the category of risk. These people will perhaps need to change medications or taking over one and make changes to their lifestyle to achieve their targets.

Reaching your target can help lower your risk of heart disease. Ask your doctor if you have achieved your target cholesterol levels and, if this is not the case, what you can do to get there.

The link between high cholesterol and heart disease

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:00:12 +0000

The higher your cholesterol, the greater your risk of heart disease increases. High cholesterol is one of many risk factors for heart disease. By controlling your cholesterol, you can reduce your risk of heart disease and related disorders such as stroke and circulation problems.

Whatever your level of risk, you should make changes in your lifestyle, such as improving your diet and exercise more, to better control your cholesterol. Some people have a level of risk that may also require medication. The objective is to reduce levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL).

People who are at high risk should begin without delay a medication. Among those whose risk level is moderate or low, a step change in lifestyle, without drugs, is generally tested for a while. Your doctor will ask you to measure your cholesterol level to assess whether treatment is effective. You argue with him to determine the treatment approach that suits you best.

Controlling your cholesterol can help reduce your risk of heart disease. Ask your doctor what should be your cholesterol if you reach your cholesterol targets, and what you should do if you did not damage.

What is your risk of heart disease

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:57:26 +0000

If your cholesterol has been measured, your doctor can calculate your overall risk of heart disease. This will help determine which treatment is best for you and what cholesterol targets you aim at.

Your cholesterol target levels depend on your risk of heart disease. Your doctor will calculate this risk based on your age, your gender, your cholesterol and your overall health. For some people, other tests are also used to assess the risk of heart disease – ask your doctor what tests you should take to assess your risk of heart disease.

You can also determine your own heart disease risk through our risk calculator heart disease.

Table 1: The definition of different levels of risk:

Risk level Risk of heart disease over 10 years
Low Risk Less than 10%
Moderate 10 to 19%
High risk 20% or more

Do you know your risk of heart disease over the next 10 years? To do this, use notrecalculatrice risk of heart disease. You can print your results to share with your doctor. The calculator also tells you what should be your target cholesterol levels.

For more information on cholesterol targets, see the section on cholesterol targets. Consult your doctor if you are worried about your risk of heart disease.

Are you at risk for heart disease

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:56:23 +0000

High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. Risk factors for heart disease are often classified into two categories: modifiable factors and treatable and non-modifiable factors.

Non-modifiable factors:
age and sex (women over 55 and men over 45 years lag higher risk)
ethnicity (people originating from Africa, South Asia and the descendants of First Nations have a higher risk)
family history (including those of family members have suffered a stroke or heart attack before age 65, suffer or have suffered from angina pectoris or are subject to hypertension or hypercholesterolemia increased risk)
Factors modifiable or treatable:
hypercholesterolemia
hypertension
High levels of CRP (C reactive protein, a protein produced by the body in the presence of inflammation)
sedentary lifestyle (lack of exercise)
obesity (overweight)
Smoking
Binge drinking (more than 2 drinks per day for men and more than one drink per day for women)
stress
Diabetes
metabolic syndrome (a group of risk factors for heart disease tend to occur together and which include a large waistline, a triglyceride high rate of low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood glucose levels; if you have 3 of these risk factors or more, your doctor may diagnose metabolic syndrome)
The modification or treatment of multiple risk factors for heart disease listed above can reduce your risk of heart disease and related problems. For those who do not suffer from heart disease, these changes help reduce their risk of heart disease appear later. This is called primary prevention.

For those who already have heart disease, these changes help reduce their risk of seeing other problems related to heart disease. This is called secondary prevention.

Concerned about your risk of heart disease? Ask your doctor if you have risk factors and what tests you should take to assess your risk of heart disease.

Are you at risk for high cholesterol

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:55:24 +0000

Many things increase the risk of hypercholesterolemia. However, not all risk factors that can be modified. What factors increase your risk of high cholesterol?

Non-modifiable factors
Although some cholesterol comes from food, the liver produces the largest share, about 80%. The production of cholesterol in the liver is influenced by family history (genetics) and how the liver works. This means that your diet and lifestyle are not the only factors responsible for a high cholesterol. The risk of high cholesterol increases with age.

Some health problems can also increase your risk include:

Diabetes
of hypothyroidism (insufficient activity of the thyroid) untreated
certain types of liver disease
Chronic kidney problems
In addition, certain medications may increase the risk of high cholesterol, among others:

progestins (such as medroxyprogesterone and progesterone) – which are found in birth control pills and medicines to treat symptoms of menopause
steroids
certain medications for blood pressure
Modifiable factors
Here are some things you can change and influence your risk of high cholesterol:

overweight
bad habits
Smoking
Lack of exercise
Wondering if you’re at risk for high cholesterol? Are some of these risk factors apply to you specifically? Ask your doctor to check your cholesterol.

How cholesterol can it be harmful to me?

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:53:03 +0000

High cholesterol is a disease usually “silent”, that is to say, it causes no signs or symptoms that you can feel. An analytical laboratory is the primary means of screening for hypercholesterolemia. For more information on screening for high cholesterol, see the section entitled “Determination of cholesterol.
High levels of LDL ( “bad” cholesterol) and total cholesterol and low levels of HDL ( “good cholesterol”) in the blood have been linked to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a buildup of plaque (a hard deposit of cholesterol and other substances from the blood) on the walls of blood vessels, making them more rigid and stronger. The plaques can also rupture, which increases the risk of clots that can clog blood vessels. It follows an increased risk:

heart attack: when blood vessels supplying the heart are blocked by a clot, some parts of the heart muscle may die due to lack of oxygen and nutrients.
cerebral vascular accident (stroke) when blood vessels supplying the brain are blocked by a clot, some parts of the brain tissue may die or suffer injuries due to inadequate blood flow.
angina pectoris: when blood vessels supplying the heart are narrowed, which prevents the heart to receive all the oxygen it needs (but sufficient for the heart muscle does not die), chest pain may appear.
peripheral vascular disease (circulation problems), also called peripheral arterial disease: when the blood vessels supplying the arms and legs are narrowed or blocked, there may be pain when the limb is used.
Untreated high cholesterol can lead to serious complications and even death, so it is important to check your cholesterol levels as often as recommended by your doctor. High cholesterol does not disappear by itself. Therefore, if your cholesterol is high, ask your doctor what you can do to lower it.

Controlling your cholesterol can protect you from complications such as heart attack and stroke. Other factors can also increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, therefore, ask your doctor if you should need additional testing to assess this risk.