Inflammation and heart disease. (Neighborhood Heart Watch).The next time you go for a cholesterol check, ask to be tested for an emerging risk factor for heart attack, C-reactive protein C-Reactive Protein Definition C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein produced by the liver and found in the blood. Purpose C-reactive protein is not normally found in the blood of healthy people. . The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein test measures protein levels that increase with the amount of inflammation in coronary arteries Coronary arteries The two main arteries that provide blood to the heart. The coronary arteries surround the heart like a crown, coming out of the aorta, arching down over the top of the heart, and dividing into two branches. . The heart-attack risk associated with this protein is reported to be almost twice that associated with high levels of LDL cholesterol LDL cholesterol n. See low-density lipoprotein. LDL Cholesterol Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is the primary cholesterol molecule. High levels of LDL increase the risk of coronary heart disease. . Harvard researchers found high levels of C-reactive protein to be the "strongest and most significant" predictor of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis atherosclerosis (ăth'ərōsklərō`sĭs): see arteriosclerosis. atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries , compared with other risk factors. Doctors suspect that inflammation damages arterial walls and plays a key role in plaque buildup. The theory could help explain why people with normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels can still have heart attacks. Look for more on inflammation and heart disease in a future issue of the newsletter. Drugs like statins Statins A class of drugs commonly used to lower LDL cholesterol levels. Mentioned in: C-Reactive Protein and aspirin can reduce elevated C-reactive protein levels. |
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