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Knowing your risk for heart disease is an important part of your overall health. When you understand your risk factors, you are better able to choose healthy lifestyle habits and find treatments that work best for you.  

There are different screenings that health care professionals can use to help you determine your risk for heart disease. These include blood pressure, body weight, blood glucose and cholesterol.  

Sometimes, you might need extra tests to offer more information about your risk. One of these tests is for hsCRP, or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. This is a signal of inflammation that is linked to an increased risk of heart attack or .  

“It’s a marker of inflammation. It’s not the cause of inflammation, but it’s an indication inflammation is present,” said Dr. Michael Shapiro, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. 

Your hsCRP level, which is checked with a simple blood test, can be one piece of information that helps you and your health care professional know which steps to consider to reduce your risk for heart disease. Treatment can include healthy lifestyle choices, such as physical activity, not smoking and managing weight. In some cases, medication may be considered. 

Dr. Shapiro explains that if, for example, your health care professional has estimated your 10-year risk for heart disease as borderline — not too high but also not too low — they might recommend testing your hsCRP level. And if there are two measurements in a row with an elevated hsCRP level, your health care professional will try to rule out other causes of inflammation and may talk about next steps. For some people, that could include a statin medication to reduce the risk of a heart disease complication such as heart attack. 
 
Talk with your health care professional about your estimated risk of heart disease and the steps you can take to improve your heart health.