what excess fibrin is---(I do not work for these people just infomation)

[Guest guest]

Hypercoagulability

NEWS, believes in the health concerns generated by hypercoagulability states in

patients. Once you have read the following article and thought about your own

condition, entertain the idea that you too MAY be suffering from a coagulation

problem. At NEWS, we test for this condition through the Hemex Laboratories,

directed by Berg. Please call our office for an appointment and we will

be glad to discuss this possibility with you.

Hypercoagulability is the increased likely-hood of blood to become abnormally

thick and thus increase the formation of fibrin-complexes in the blood vessels.

Hypercoagulability causes a shift in haemostatic balance towards pro-clotting

factors. Most of us think of " clot formation " as the result of

hypercoagulability [this is a cross-linking of fibrin caused by a burst of

thrombin]...but more commonly the result is the deposition of fibrin [fibrinogen

is the precursor of fibrin], obstructing blood flow and causing local ischemia

[deficient blood flow] to involved areas.

When tissues don't receive sufficient blood, the cells are starved for oxygen

and nutrients. Pain can result, as in headache or fibromyalgia. Many chronic

conditions such as attention deficit disorder, autism and schizophrenia, as well

as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, irritable bowel, endocrine

(hypothalamic-adrenal axis-related) sleep disorder, and the type of infertility

that manifests itself in repeated miscarriages (fetal wastage syndrome), are all

related to elevated blood viscosity and organ dysfunction caused by impeded,

insufficient blood flow.

Hypercoagulability can occur after trauma, such as a severe infection, a car

accident or severe emotional stress. Most people eventually recover, but a

minority go on to develop a chronic condition such as fibromyalgia. These

individuals may be suffering from a genetic protein defect that makes them

especially prone to develop the hypercoagulability state that then causes

ischemia in tissues which then leads to chronic fatiguing pain.

According to Carol Ann Ryser, M.D., a pediatrician, every cancer patient in her

clinical practice, in has been diagnosed with hypercoagulability. It appears

that cancer cells produce a protein that acts as a pro-coagulant. Research

confirms that cancer patients have an increased incidence of blood clots, and

that low-dose heparin can be a useful adjunct therapy in cancer, increasing

survival. Diabetics and AIDS patients also appear to benefit from low-dose

heparin.

Hypercoagulability is also part of the inflammatory response. This association

has not received the full attention it merits. We know that an excess tendency

toward clotting is undesirable, and may indeed be fatal in the case of heart

attacks and strokes. So far, however, not too much has been said about increased

blood viscosity without actual clots, or about fibrin deposition inside blood

vessels of individuals who suffer from chronic hypercoagulability. Plaque

formation may be due to inflammation that turns on the hypercoagulation which

causes the plaque. The inflammation may come from any where...viruses,

bacteria, arthritis, bowel disease...anything that activates the inflammation

cascades then activates a state of hypercoagulability.

Hypercoagulability is also promoted by:

Genetic protein defect(s) [Protein C / Protein S

High lipoprotein(a), by blocking fibrinolysis

High homocysteine (over 10)

High blood sugar

High triglycerides

Eating polyunsaturated fatty acids that metabolize to Thromboxane, an

eicosanoid derivative

Viruses

Bacteria

Chronic conditions that raise hsCRP

Altogether, the regulation of coagulation is quite complex, involving the

balance of more than a dozen factors. It takes special tests to establish if a

patient might be deficient in these proteins or shows elevated fibrinogen.

Hypercoagulability can be hinted at through the use of the well-known " sed-rate "

blood test. A sed rate of less than 5 indicates hypercoagulability. It is also

suggested by having any of the following chemistry abnormalities:

Elevated Lp(a)

Elevated Homocysteine

Elevated hsCRP

Elevated Triglycerides

Elevated Fibrinogen.

The difficulty comes in trying to find out the major factor(s) causing the

condition. Thus the need for additional testing, so that the right factor can be

targeted for treatment. Hemex Laboratories has specialized in testing for these

coagulation defects as well as their causes.

Causes can be varied too but virus infections have been singled out as

particularly likely to provoke excess fibrin production. This fibrin accumulates

in certain places, creating a " fibrin block " that impedes blood flow and

deprives a certain area of the body of sufficient oxygen. Dr. Ryser said that

she finds a history of two to six serious infections per every chronic fatigue

patient. There is also suspicion that certain vaccines can act as precipitating

agents for inflammation-induced hypercoagulability (e.g. anthrax vaccine

contaminated with mycoplasma, a suspect in the Gulf War Syndrome).

Hypercoagulability can be dramatically improved with the use of low-dose heparin

(a natural anticoagulant, one of several produced by our own body). Increasing

blood flow can quickly clear up conditions such as inflammatory bowel syndrome,

or help certain women avoid repeated miscarriage.

Glucosamine is a mild anticoagulant and one of its unexpected benefits is the

prevention of migraines in people with mild hypercoagulability, at a dose as low

as 1,500 mg/d or +3000mg/d. Using safe, mild, natural anticoagulants like

glucosamine adds a useful new technique for migraine prevention.

The long-term safety of low-dose heparin administration requires further

research; but for milder cases, and for prevention, we have access to safe

hypocoagulant agents such as fish oil, curcumin (turmeric extract), ginger and

ginkgo.

Many AntiAging physicians believe that hypercoagulability, like inflammation in

general, is one of the characteristics of aging. This acceptance of

hypercoagulability represents a " paradigm shift " in our thinking about disease

and aging. Tissue atrophy, seen in aging persons, can be better understood as

being caused by impeded blood flow leading to local ischemia (oxygen

deficiency). Only fifteen seconds of ischemia turns off the mitochondria. This

initiates an apoptosis (programmed cell death) cascade. The shrinking of our

organs with age leads to ever-greater pathology. Loss of heart tissue eventually

results in congestive heart failure. Loss of glandular tissue results in hormone

deficiencies, loss of neural tissue brings on cognitive dysfunction and

eventually senile dementia, loss of lung tissue leads to emphysema, and so on.

This is the atrophy of aging that we see throughout the body. The new insight is

that " ischemia is a silent cause of aging and degenerative disease. "

In order to fight ischemia, we need to keep the blood from getting too viscous

and sluggish, and platelets from clumping too readily. We now see that various

micronutrients are not only antioxidants, but also anticoagulants. Their great

advantage is safety. We know how to counteract various procoagulant factors

naturally:

High homocysteine, for instance, can be remedied through the use of folic acid,

B12 and B6

Inhibit platelet aggregation through use of aspirin, curcumin, ginger and

ginkgo

Lower fibrinogen with curcumin

High lipoprotein(a) responds to niacin (or inositol hexanicotinate), high doses

of vitamin C, and the amino acids lysine and proline.

Maintain a more youthful blood circulation through hormone replacement and

exercise

Lower blood viscosity with enzymes such as bromelain and Wobenzyme

Promoting better circulation throught the release of tissue plasminogen

activator (tPA) from the lining of blood vessels with massage

Causes of aging in descending order are:

Stress = Age-related dysfunction of the hypothalamic-adrenal axis (HPA)

Hypothalamic-adrenal axis governs our neurohormonal response to stress

Oxidized adrenaline is a free radical

Inflammation

Hypercoagulability

Understanding hypercoagulability allows us to reach more patients with " strange

syndromes " that don't seem to respond to any of our " drug " therapies.

Understanding hypercoagulability helps us anti-age....so that our " Golden Years "

are golden. Understanding hypercoagulability gets us closer to the reality of

21st Century Functional Medicine as it should be practiced.

If you need help understanding hypercoagulability, please call our office for an

appointment and we will be glad to discuss this possibility with you.