High C Reactive Protein Means

When Is It Ordered

The CRP test may be ordered when it is suspected that you have a serious bacterial infection based on your medical history and signs and symptoms. It may be ordered, for example, when a newborn shows signs of infection or when you have symptoms of sepsis, such as:

• Rapid breathing
• Rapid heart rate

It may also be ordered on a regular basis to monitor conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus and is often repeated at intervals to determine whether treatment is effective. This is particularly useful for inflammation problems since CRP levels drop as inflammation subsides.

It is also ordered and monitored after surgery to ensure that you are free of post-surgery infection.

How To Treat And Prevent Elevated Levels

C-reactive protein treatment depends on what the underlying cause of the inflammation is. The best way to naturally treat high levels is to uncover the root cause of someones inflammatory response and then make lifestyle or medication recommendations based on that finding.

The same types of healthy habits that help protect against heart disease, such as eating a balanced diet, not smoking and exercising, are also usually involved in treatment for high CRP levels are.

1. Eat An Anti-Inflammatory Diet

In order to protect against the effects of inflammation on your heart and elsewhere, its recommended that you eat a whole-foods diet such as the Mediterranean diet. This type of nutrient-dense diet includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, fresh herbs, fish, whole grains, legumes and nuts.

Eating foods high in antioxidants, such as vitamin C, A and E, plusprobiotic foods can help to support your immune system. One study found that high intake of vitamin C helped to reduce CRP levels in people with levels greater than 1 mg/L.

Its also important to address any food allergies you may be suffering from, as well as to avoid foods that trigger flair-ups if you have inflammatory bowel disease. These foods can include: gluten, dairy, caffeine, alcohol and others depending on the person.

2. Get Regular Exercise

3. Talk to Your Doctor About Your Medication Use

If an infection is the root cause of your elevated CRP, then antibiotics may be needed to help you recover.

C Reactive Protein Questions

A list of C reactive protein-related questions.

Or low inflammation and high CRP? Is CRP really *that* great of an inflammation marker?

Where to get high sensitivity e2 testing in U.K. ? Hi plz help. The regular sensitivity tests are all thrown out of whack due to C2 reactive protein. Every lab I found that offers high sensitivity testing is restricted to US residents

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Here are some of the tests

• Blood pressure score

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Why Would I Need This Test

You might need this test if your doctor suspects that you have an infection or an illness related to inflammation or to check for infection, especially after surgery. CRP can help confirm a diagnosis and assess how well treatment is going for these kinds of illnesses.

Sometimes CRP is tested if a pregnant woman has ruptured her membranes early. CRP can indicate if there are any problems with the baby.

A special type of CRP called a high-sensitivity CRP can help determine the risk for heart disease.

What Are Normal Crp Levels

Laboratories measure CRP in milligrams of CRP per liter of blood . In healthy adults, normal CRP levels should be less than 3 mg/L, although reference ranges vary. In fact, the level of CRP that is truly normal is not known. Typically, CRP levels above 3.0 mg/L indicate inflammation. CRP value also normally increases with age, in African American individuals, and in females.

The table below shows what the different CRP levels could indicate. But bear in mind that these ranges may vary slightly between laboratories.

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Why Do Healthcare Providers Perform Crp Tests

Healthcare providers typically order a C-reactive protein test to help diagnose or rule out certain conditions, including:

• Severe bacterial infections, such as .
• Fungal infections.

• Nausea and vomiting.

Your provider may also use CRP tests to monitor your treatment if youve already been diagnosed with an infection or a chronic inflammatory condition.

CRP levels increase and decrease depending on how much inflammation your body has. If your CRP levels go down, it’s a sign that your treatment for the inflammation is working.

What To Do When The Crp Is High

After confirming high levels of CRP, the doctor will evaluate the results of other tests and assess the patients symptoms. From the moment the cause is identified, treatment can be started in a more focused and specific way.

When the patient shows signs of malaise without any other symptoms or specific risk factors, the doctor may request other exams, such as blood tumor marker tests or a CT scan, to check if increased levels of CRP are related to cancer.

When C-reactive protein levels are above 200 mg/L and an infection is confirmed, normally the person will be hospitalized to receive intravenous antibiotics. The CRP levels start to increase 6 hours after any infection starts and will usually start to lower after antibiotics. If CRP levels have not decreased after two days, its important that the doctor establish another treatment strategy.

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What Is A Blood Test

By taking and testing a small sample of a persons blood, doctors can check for many kinds of diseases and conditions. Blood tests help doctors check how the bodys organs are working and see if medical treatments are helpful.

To help your child get ready for a blood test, find out if they need to fast or should stop taking medicines before the test. Explain what to expect during the test. If your child is anxious about it, work together on ways to stay calm.

When To Treat High Crp Levels

As an additional cardiovascular risk factor, CRP levels identify those people who are more at risk for cardiovascular disease. But how useful is that information to the physician and patient?

Cholesterol-lowering medication such as a statin have been shown to lower CRP levels. A CRP test taken out of context can have questionable value. For example, if youre at low cardiovascular risk and your CRP level is borderline high, the long-term benefit of taking a statin to keep your CRP low is up for debate and further study.

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When Should I Call The Doctor

You should call your healthcare provider if youre at risk for a bone infection and experience:

• Back pain that doesnt improve with rest or pain relievers.
• Signs of infection, such as fever and yellow discharge .
• Pain that makes movement difficult.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

• Why did I get osteomyelitis?
• What type of osteomyelitis do I have?
• What is the best treatment for this type of osteomyelitis?
• What are the treatment risks and side effects?
• How can I avoid getting osteomyelitis again?
• What type of follow-up care do I need after treatment?
• Should I look out for signs of complications?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Osteomyelitis is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment. Most bone infections go away when you take antibiotics. Be sure to take all your prescribed medication even if you start feeling better. Stopping medications too soon can allow the infection to return. If youre at risk for osteomyelitis, talk to your healthcare provider about the warning signs of infection so you know when to seek prompt medical care.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 12/01/2021.

References

What To Expect During The Test

A nurse or other healthcare professional will draw blood from a vein, usually on the inside of your elbow or the back of your hand.

First, they clean the skin over the vein with antiseptic. Next, they wrap an elastic band around your arm, causing your veins to bulge out slightly. The healthcare professional then inserts a small needle into the vein and collects your blood in a sterile vial.

After the healthcare professional collects your blood sample, they remove the elastic band around your arm and ask you to apply pressure to the puncture site with gauze. They may use tape or a bandage to hold the gauze in place.

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What Elevated Crp Levels Mean

When CRP levels remain elevated for a long time, it can indicate chronic inflammation of the blood vessels. This type of low-grade inflammation contributes to the deposit of fat and other substances in the artery walls, a condition called atherosclerosis.

This build-up can narrow the arteries that feed the heart blood, causing coronary artery disease . Over time, heart attack, stroke, or heart failure can occur. This is true even for those with elevated CRP levels who have no obvious symptoms or signs of active inflammation.

Inflammation is an important contributor to atherosclerosis and elevated CRP is associated with an increased risk of CAD. A study of 376 people found that 210 of them diagnosed with CAD all had elevated CRP levels when compared with 166 people who did not have CAD.

The CRP level increased in step with the degree of blood vessel damage evaluated by coronary angiography, an imaging test used to visualize blood flow through the heart.

Coronary Heart Disease Risk

Arterial damage results from white blood cell invasion and inflammation within the wall. CRP is a general marker for inflammation and infection, so it can be used as a very rough proxy for heart disease risk. Since many things can cause elevated CRP, this is not a very specific prognostic indicator. Nevertheless, a level above 2.4 mg/L has been associated with a doubled risk of a coronary event compared to levels below 1 mg/L however, the study group in this case consisted of patients who had been diagnosed with unstable angina pectoris whether elevated CRP has any predictive value of acute coronary events in the general population of all age ranges remains unclear. Currently, C-reactive protein is not recommended as a cardiovascular disease screening test for average-risk adults without symptoms.

The American Heart Association and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have defined risk groups as follows:

• Low Risk: less than 1.0 mg/L
• Average risk: 1.0 to 3.0 mg/L
• High risk: above 3.0 mg/L

But hs-CRP is not to be used alone and should be combined with elevated levels of cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides, and glucose level. Smoking, hypertension and diabetes also increase the risk level of cardiovascular disease.

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What Causes Periodontitis

A buildup of bacteria in the mouth can eventually cause periodontitis.

All of our mouths have bacteria thats healthy and normal. But some types of bacteria mix with mucus and other substances. This combination forms a film on our teeth called plaque. When you brush and floss, you get rid of plaque. But if you dont do so regularly, the plaque hardens and forms tartar. You cant get rid of tartar through brushing you need a professional dental cleaning.

The buildup of plaque and tartar leads to gingivitis, an inflammation of the gingivae . Your gums start to swell and bleed. You can treat gingivitis through good dental care, including brushing, flossing and professional cleanings. But untreated gingivitis leads to periodontitis.

What Is A C

A c-reactive protein test measures the level of c-reactive protein in your blood. CRP is a protein made by your liver. It’s sent into your bloodstream in response to inflammation. Inflammation is your body’s way of protecting your tissues if you’ve been injured or have an infection. It can cause pain, redness, and swelling in the injured or affected area. Some autoimmune disorders and chronic diseases can also cause inflammation.

Normally, you have low levels of c-reactive protein in your blood. High levels may be sign of a serious infection or other disorder.

Other names: c-reactive protein, serum

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How To Lower Your Elevated C

With high levels of CRP being so closely tied to cardiovascular disease and cancer, the question youre probably wondering right now is, How do I lower my CRP test levels?

For starters, your lifestyle has a direct impact on CRP levels. Certain dietary habits, such as a high intake of trans-fatty acids, can increase CRP levels, leading to a reason why trans fats increase cardiovascular risk to a greater degree than one would expect based on its adverse effects on blood fat levels.37

One study found that ideal health behaviors could lower CRP.38 In that study, people having four to six ideal behaviors had up to a 32% reduction in their CRP test levels. Exercise alone has been shown to be a means of lowering high CRP. In fact, the higher the baseline CRP, the greater the impact of a reasonable exercise regimen on CRP.39

Eating foods cooked at high temperature can increase inflammation.40-42

Avoiding high temperature-cooked food can reduce production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and CRP, thus helping to extinguish the inflammatory fire raging in the bodies of most aging people today.40-43

Wouldnt it be incredible if Americans could throw away side effect-laden pain killing drugs just by changing the way their food is prepared?

The table above describes 17 nutrients that have been shown to favorably influence CRP levels.

In order to determine your C-reactive protein level, all it requires is a low-cost blood test.

Clinical Uses Of CRP In Diagnosis

What Happens During A Crp Test

A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This process usually takes less than five minutes.

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Are There Risks With The Test

There are no risks associated with this test other than routine issues that can occur with any blood test. The main issues

A small study from 2013 evaluated 100 people with cardiovascular risk factors. Researchers found that a CRP level over 10 mg/L was connected to a 4 percent risk of developing a fatal cardiovascular disease in 10 years.

If your doctor believes you may be at risk of heart disease or stroke, they may order a hs-CRP blood test alongside other tests.

Additionally, theres more recent research that suggests CRP may be used as a predictor of health outcomes related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease .

If your doctor is concerned you are dealing with the symptoms of other inflammatory conditions besides cardiovascular issues, they may order a regular CRP test to diagnose, among other things:

Who Is At Risk For Sepsis

Anyone with an infection could get sepsis. But certain people are at higher risk:

• Adults 65 or older

• Fever, shivering, or feeling very cold
• Clammy or sweaty skin

It’s important to get medical care right away if you think you might have sepsis or if your infection is not getting better or is getting worse.

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Hidden Causes Of High C Reactive Protein

Biljana Novkovic, PhDJonathan Ritter, PharmD, PhD Puya Yazdi, MDBiljana Novkovic, PhD

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How Does Deep Cleaning Treat Periodontitis

During a deep cleaning, your provider removes plaque. Providers use methods called scaling and root planing, which they may do with a laser:

• Scaling scrapes off the tartar from above and below the gum line.
• Root planing gets rid of the rough spots on the roots of the teeth. It helps remove the bacteria that cause periodontitis.

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