Colin - as reported in the posts referencing 'thick, sticky blood' the High Sensitivity or Cardiac C-reactive Protein test along with Fibrinogen, Ferritin are among the top tests that measure factors that influence hyperviscosity....but not the only important ones.. Inflammation is typically causal. Conventional medicine does acknowledge the usefulness of the HS-CRP and sometimes fibrinogen.
As an example, because of my Epstein Barr Virus reactivation, one of the first clues was an elevated fibrinogen level which lead to further testing.
My protocols all through my afib journey were by natural means until the ablation protocols for anticoagulants. Prior to that and since the onset in 1995, I used all that was mentioned as aids to help prevent adverse clotting which results from 'thick, sticky blood.'
Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids or 'fish oils' in at least 4 grams a day was my first protocol along with optimizing magnesium although, initially, I wasn't taking nearly enough magnesium to help with anti-platelet aggregation.
Ginkgo biloba was added later on as well... since it is even more effective than aspirin without the aspirin side effects and several others focused on smothering inflammation and lowering the stickiness tendency of platelets.
After my first ablation and when I was off heart meds and warfarin/coumadin, I had an AF breakthrough that required cardioversion. Fortunately, I had resumed the nattokinase dosing because a week later, when I had a spiral CT scan of my heart for my checkback with Dr. Natale, it showed a clot had formed in the LAA. However, no one flagged that fact or informed me it was there. I learned of it some 6 weeks later when I requested a written report of the CT scan. We all presumed that by then and, thankfully, the clot had been managed by my natural protocols.
However, in light of Shannon's recent experience with clot formation and subsequent stroke while on Cardiokinase and other natural substances, it promts a cautionery a warning that you really do need to know and monitor all of those markers that are indicated to help avoid 'thick, sticky blood' ....especially anything that sustains ongoing silent inflammation and that could be as simplistic as an unknown food sensitivity that promotes inflammation.
It's very unfortunate that the medical profession does not emphasize the importance of damping down silent inflammation factors by natural means which includes dietary and lifestyle choices and natural antiinflammatories.
Among the easiest is the "Earthing" or Grounding practice we've discussed at length in the past to complement supplementation. Cardiologist Stephen Sinatra has written about his informal testing of blood viscosity of himself and colleagues before and after earthing sessions that showed remarkable improvements. It's certainly easy enough to do and inexpensive.
As we age, and we all are aging, it becomes important to be very aware of all influences that can cause adverse clotting as it can be risky to ignore the realities.
Best to you,
Jackie
See: [
www.afibbers.org]
[
www.afibbers.org]
[
www.grounded.com]
[
www.drsinatra.com]
[
www.drsinatra.com]