We tend to think of heart disease as a problem of cholesterol clogging up pipes. In reality, inflammation plays a central role too. The fatty deposits that build up in artery walls are not passive — they involve an ongoing inflammatory process, and one blood test, hs-CRP, offers a window onto it.
What hs-CRP measures
C-reactive protein (CRP) is made by the liver and rises whenever there is inflammation in the body. The "hs" stands for high-sensitivity: an hs-CRP test can pick up the very low levels that ordinary CRP tests would miss. Those low-grade elevations are what interest cardiologists, because persistent, subtle inflammation is linked to the development and instability of arterial plaque.
How it fits into heart risk
hs-CRP does not replace cholesterol testing — it adds to it. Two people with similar cholesterol can carry different risk, and a raised hs-CRP can flag extra risk that lipids alone do not reveal. It is best used alongside the rest of the cardiovascular picture:
- Cholesterol and other lipids.
- Blood pressure.
- Blood sugar (HbA1c).
- Lifestyle factors and family history.
Why it is non-specific
The main limitation of CRP is that it cannot tell you where inflammation is coming from. A recent cold, a flare of arthritis, a dental infection or even hard exercise can all push it up temporarily. That is why a raised hs-CRP is only meaningful once these short-term causes have been excluded, ideally by repeating the test when you are well and free of any obvious infection.
Check hs-CRP
hs-CRP is used as part of cardiovascular risk assessment, capturing the low-grade inflammation involved in arterial disease — most informative alongside your cholesterol and other risk factors.
Check hs-CRPWhat you can do about it
Encouragingly, the same habits that protect the heart in other ways also tend to lower inflammation: not smoking, staying active, keeping to a healthy weight, and eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains and unsaturated fats. Where cardiovascular risk is high overall, treatments prescribed by a doctor — such as statins — also have anti-inflammatory effects. Any decisions of that kind belong with your clinician.
When to get checked
hs-CRP is worth considering as part of a broader cardiovascular assessment, particularly if your standard risk picture is borderline and you want more detail. Have it interpreted with your other results rather than in isolation, and repeat it when well if the first value is unexpectedly high.
Check hs-CRP
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Specialist interest: Cardiovascular Medicine · OneMedicine, CQC-registered clinic