While it is still uncertain how important it is to reduce elevated CRP, experts have identified several ways of doing so. You don't necessarily need medicine to lower your levels of CRP. Taking steps to make your lifestyle healthier can also help. Ways to reduce your CRP without drugs include:. Some of these strategies can also reduce certain heart disease risk factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure. Statins are drugs that lower cholesterol. They can also substantially reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in even healthy-appearing patients whose CRP levels are high.
Statins shown to bring down CRP levels and reduce related cardiac risks include:. If you have high CRP levels, especially if you have one or more additional risk factors for heart disease, you should discuss the option of taking a statin drug with your healthcare provider. Aspirin does not specifically reduce levels of CRP.
However, daily aspirin therapy can be used as a heart attack and stroke prevention measure. This may be recommended for some people with elevated CRP who are at a higher risk of heart disease or who have already experienced one of these consequences.
Aspirin therapy isn't for everyone. Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting an aspiring regimen. You can lower your CRP levels by adopting a healthy lifestyle and, if appropriate, taking a statin. These strategies can help lower your CRP levels and potentially reduce your cardiovascular risk.
Elevated CRP levels indicate there is inflammation in the body. Inflammation cannot only be an indicator of issues like an infection or arthritis, but a contributing factor for heart concerns like hardening of the arteries.
It remains unknown whether CRP itself increases cardiovascular risk. It could be that it merely reflects the vascular injury and inflammation that results from other risk factors. Regardless, elevated CRP must be taken seriously as it is associated with conditions that affect the health of your heart and the supply of blood to the rest of your body.
If your CRP levels are elevated, you should take that as an important sign that it is time to get serious about reducing all your cardiac risk factors by exercising, not smoking, losing weight, watching your diet, and controlling your blood pressure. This can be challenging, but it is necessary. Reach out to your healthcare provider and additional healthcare professionals, such as a registered dietitian, for help if you need it. Did you know the most common forms of heart disease are largely preventable?
Our guide will show you what puts you at risk, and how to take control of your heart health. Mayo Clinic. C-reactive protein test. HIV Clin Trials. American Heart Association.
This especially high reading may indicate:. Note that CRP levels may also be elevated for those taking birth control pills. Elevated CRP values in pregnancy may be a marker for complications, but more studies are necessary to fully understand the role of CRP and pregnancy. Before having a CRP test, speak to your doctor about any medical conditions that may skew the test results. Since there are other blood tests that can be performed instead, you might wish to forego a CRP test altogether.
Your doctor will consider your lifestyle risk factors, other medical conditions, and family history when determining which follow-up tests are best for you. Research indicates that a healthy dietary pattern can lower CRP levels. The Mediterranean diet has been consistently shown to lower CRP levels. An aspirin regimen may be recommended as well. Vitamin C has also been explored as a way to lower CRP levels for people that are at an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease.
Recent studies suggest that probiotics may also have a positive effect in lowering CRP. Certain herbs and spices are known to have anti-inflammatory properties. Learn about the power of turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, cayenne, cloves…. Did you know you could have a heart attack without feeling any chest pain? Heart attacks can produce a number of different signs and sensations….
Coronary artery disease reduces blood flow to your heart. Learn how to recognize coronary artery disease symptoms, how to manage the symptoms, and…. Learn the ins and outs of MRI vs. X-ray imaging tests, including the pros and cons of each test, how they compare to CT scans, how much they cost, and…. It should only be requested on patients in whom the clinical evaluation has given some indication of a disease process. Useful indications are as follows:.
The role of CRP measurements is unclear in the following situations, and is unlikely to be helpful:. Access to the following regional pathways is localised for each region and access is limited to health providers.
Looking for Where to get medical help A health professional or service Patient portals Newsletters View all. Information for healthcare providers on c-reactive protein test The content on this page will be of most use to clinicians, such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists, specialists and other healthcare providers.
Key facts about CRP see references below CRP shows a rapid response to infection and inflammation, increasing within hours of stimulus and returning rapidly to normal following resolution.
Typically CRP begins to rise within hours of stimulus, peaks within 36—50 hours, and returns to normal 3—7 days following resolution. There are distinct ranges of normal and abnormal in CRP reference ranges, without variations for age or gender. CRP is not affected by conditions such as pregnancy, intercurrent drug use, anaemia and plasma protein variations. CRP as an indication of severity When a patient is ill but the diagnosis is not known, the level of CRP may provide additional information to assist in reaching a diagnosis.
Useful indications are as follows: Scenario Description When you suspect a significant bacterial infection CRP can be helpful in differentiating between bacterial and viral infections. Response to therapy antibiotics or steroid therapy CRP is useful to assess whether the infection has responded to an antibiotic, or to assess whether the patient is responding to a trial of steroid therapy.
The role of CRP measurements is unclear in the following situations, and is unlikely to be helpful: screening asymptomatic patients as a cardiovascular disease risk factor in the management of cancer patients other than in cases of intercurrent infection. Regional HealthPathways NZ Access to the following regional pathways is localised for each region and access is limited to health providers. Association between point-of-care CRP testing and antibiotic prescribing in respiratory tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis of primary care studies Br J Gen Pract ;e— Effect of point of care testing for C reactive protein and training in communication skills on antibiotic use in lower respiratory tract infections: cluster randomised trial BMJ ;b BMC Fam Pract ;
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