CRP: What is it?
Posted on October 8th, 2009 in Health News
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.
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