Inflammation & Immunity

Understanding Your White Blood Cell Count (WBC): What It Says About Your Immune Health

Understanding Your White Blood Cell Count (WBC): What It Says About Your Immune Health I once had a patient who came in after her annual labs, completely panicked because her WBC count was “a little high.” She was Googling things she definitely shouldn’t have been Googling — and thought she had every infection under the […]

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Understanding Zinc: Why This Micronutrient Matters More Than You Think

Understanding Zinc: Why This Micronutrient Matters More Than You Think I can’t count how many times I’ve had someone tell me, “But I eat healthy — how could I be low in zinc?” The truth is, zinc isn’t something most of us think about until we’re dealing with constant colds, slow-healing cuts, or unexplained fatigue.

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Understanding ANA (Antinuclear Antibodies): What This Autoimmune Test Means

Understanding ANA (Antinuclear Antibodies): What This Autoimmune Test Means The first time I saw “ANA” on a patient’s lab report, she looked at me and said, “So… does this mean I have lupus?” That’s a really common fear. The truth is, ANA testing can feel confusing — but when you break it down, it’s simply

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Understanding Your ESR: What the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Really Tells You

Understanding Your ESR: What the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Really Tells You I like to call the ESR test the “silent scout” of inflammation. It doesn’t diagnose one single disease, but it quietly reveals when your body’s immune system is on alert. What the ESR Test Measures Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) measures how quickly red blood

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Understanding Vitamin D: Why This Sunshine Vitamin Matters for Your Health

Understanding Vitamin D: Why This Sunshine Vitamin Matters for Your Health When I first started nursing, I didn’t think twice about vitamin D. I figured if you spent a little time outside, you were good to go. But then I began seeing lab results from patients who spent plenty of time outdoors and still came

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Understanding CRP: Your Key Inflammation Marker

Understanding CRP: Your Key Inflammation Marker I remember the first time a patient handed me a lab printout showing an elevated CRP. Their eyes were wide with worry, but honestly, most people have no idea what CRP even means. They ask, “Is this serious? Do I have a disease?” And I get it—CRP can feel

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