High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)
Immune system healthHigh-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a blood marker used to detect low levels of inflammation in the body.
It is a more precise version of standard CRP testing and is especially useful for assessing cardiovascular risk, as even mild inflammation can contribute to heart disease.
Reference range
Source: Ahead Health benchmark
Reference ranges may vary between labs and assays. Always interpret results with your healthcare provider.
Why this matters
Chronic low-grade inflammation damages blood vessels silently over years. Elevated hs-CRP itself causes no symptoms but signals increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. In some cases, this inflammation may subtly show as persistent fatigue or low energy. Very high levels typically point to acute infection or inflammatory disease.
Lifestyle factors such as obesity, smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise often drive chronic elevation, meaning targeted lifestyle changes can effectively reduce risk.
How this connects to other biomarkers
- hs-CRP < 1 mg/L is low cardiovascular risk; 1–3 mg/L average; > 3 mg/L high risk — levels integrate with LDL Cholesterol, Apolipoprotein B, and Lipoprotein (a) to refine atherosclerotic risk.
- Markedly elevated hs-CRP (> 10 mg/L) usually reflects acute infection, trauma, or autoimmune flare — re-check when acute illness resolves before basing CV risk decisions on it.
- Persistent low-grade elevation with elevated HOMA-Index and low HDL Cholesterol points to metabolic-syndrome-driven inflammation.
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