When your hs-CRP level is combined with other factors, like your cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, diet, and exercise habits, you can start to build a bigger picture of your health.
Also, only ~50% of people who have heart attacks have high LDL cholesterol levels. Measuring your hs-CRP level is another way to make sure any signs of heart disease don’t slip through the cracks.
Measuring your hs-CRP level is particularly beneficial if you:
A hs-CRP level:
If your hs-CRP level is above 10.0 mg/L, it’s a sign that you have serious inflammation and you should go for more tests to see what’s causing this.
Don’t panic if your hs-CRP level is raised. It just means that there’s some inflammation happening somewhere in your body. Depending on how high it is, you might be able to reduce your levels with lifestyle changes or your doctor can do further tests to figure out what’s going on.
If your CRP level is raised, there are lots of things you can do yourself to try to lower it.
Following a Mediterranean diet is one of the best ways to lower your CRP level. Exercise, weight loss if you’re overweight, and not smoking are also important.
In some cases, your doctor might prescribe you a statin — a drug that can lower your CRP and cholesterol levels.
Libby, P., Ridker, P. M., & Hansson, G. K. (2009). Inflammation in atherosclerosis: from pathophysiology to practice. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 54(23), 2129-2138.
Ridker, P. M., Paynter, N. P., Rifai, N., Gaziano, J. M., & Cook, N. R. (2008). C-reactive protein and parental history improve global cardiovascular risk prediction: the Reynolds Risk Score for men. Circulation, 118(22), 2243-2251.
Ridker, P. M., Buring, J. E., Cook, N. R., & Rifai, N. (2003). C-reactive protein, the metabolic syndrome, and risk of incident cardiovascular events: an 8-year follow-up of 14 719 initially healthy American women. Circulation, 107(3), 391-397.