Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
TwitThis
Prevention by the Numbers
C-reactive protein (CRP) testing is becoming increasingly common as doctors are finding that people with elevated CRP -- even if their LDL is below 150 -- may benefit from lifestyle changes and statin drugs. If you have high levels of CRP and high cholesterol, your risk of heart attack and stroke is nine times that of someone with normal levels of both.The risks of heart attack and stroke begin to rise with a CRP level as low as 0.55 milligram to 0.99 milligram per liter. Above 2.5 milligrams your risk is twofold or even fourfold. Ask for the high-sensitivity CRP test (hs-CRP) at your next checkup. It costs about $20 and is widely available. The standard CRP test, used for diagnosing conditions such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, simply isn't sensitive enough.
Despite CRP's value in predicting heart disease risk, it will never be used by itself, doctors say, because it may be elevated in people with other forms of inflammation (such as arthritis) whose coronary heart disease risk is normal.
Quick Tips
The good news is that CRP levels seem to predict a heart attack six or eight years in the future. That's plenty of time to modify your lifestyle (and, if necessary, take medication).
- Quit smoking. Smoking inflames the arteries and is associated with higher levels of CRP.
- Take fish-oil supplements, which help reduce inflammation throughout the body. Studies have found that those who take fish-oil supplements are less likely to die from a heart attack than those who don't. In a 1998 study on CRP, researcher Paul M. Ridker, M.D., found that men with the highest levels of CRP reaped the greatest benefits from taking asprin.
- Take a daily aspirin if you are at increased risk for heart disease.
- Lose weight. Dr. Ridker's study also found that the more overweight you are, the higher your CRP level.
- Exercise. A study published in August 2002 found that the more active people were, the lower their CRP levels.
10 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
How to Make Your Party a Success
Quiz: What Do Food Labels Really Mean?
Funny Video: Fast Food Mixup
Joke: Worshippers are greeted by these words at the Travelers Rest Church…
10 Great Gift Book Ideas
Advertisement 
