No, it’s not a radio station.
I wondered about exactly this when I received results from my blood test. While my number was very low, I wondered whether I should worry about this test result. Here’s what I found:
It stands for C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and it’s a blood test marker which measures the inflammation in your body. CRP is produced in the liver in response to the degree of inflammation found in the body. It can be caused by a wide variety of conditions, ranging from stress to infection to cancer. So why is this important? High CRP levels can indicate there is inflammation in the arteries of the heart, which could indicate a possible risk of a heart attack. High CRP levels may also indicate a degree of rheumatoid arthritis.
Normal CRP levels are below 3.0 mg/L, but reference ranges often vary between labs.CRP tests can detect levels below 10.0 mg/L. CRP levels greater than 10 mg/L “may” suggest an acute coronary process such as a heart attack. This blood test must be ordered by your doctor. Typically, these high levels may be linked to stress, smoking, excessive alcohol, and diet. I then remembered someone very close to me who was a heavy smoker and how the doctor actively urged him to quit, as his CRP numbers were high. Sadly, he didn’t.
What can you do to control/lower these levels? Curcumin is the active compound in turmeric and is a strong anti-inflammatory agent. Some studies indicate it can be more effective than aspirin and ibuprofen. Also, these following foods are useful as well in help-
ing to reduce inflammation: apples, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, celery, cabbage, figs, kale, pears, pumpkin and pumpkin seeds,
and winter squash.
Most importantly, talk to your doctor to determine if CRP levels could affect your health.
Sources: Mayo Clinic, American Heart Association, Web MD