C-reactive protein is produced by the liver and released into your bloodstream in response to inflammation in your body. This protein has to be maintained within the recommended normal range. Any fluctuation in the levels will manifest in the form of inflammation, which could be due to an infection or may be an indication of a chronic disease. Regular CRP Test is recommended for the upkeep of overall health.
A simple CRP Blood Test can be done to check the CRP levels. However, for checking even minute fluctuations in the CRP levels, a high-sensitivity CRP test can be done. High levels of CRP can be an indicator of a serious health condition. With regular monitoring, risks of chronic conditions like coronary heart disease can be averted.
Necessity of CRP Test
We believe now you must be aware of CRP Meaning. It is a C-reactive protein that is released by the liver into your bloodstream as an immune response to inflammation caused by any injury or infection. The CRP Test is done when there is inflammation in your body to check for fluctuation in the levels. Though the cause for the inflammation cannot be diagnosed with the CRP Test, different levels can be indicators of various health conditions that can be identified with further tests. The CRP Blood Test is done to rule out certain health conditions including:
- Fungal Infections
- IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)
- Bacterial Infections like Sepsis
- Some kind of arthritis
- Bone Infection (Osteomyelitis)
- Autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Whenever you undergo surgery or any invasive procedures, the CRP Blood Test is done as a precautionary measure to rule out any infection during the recovery period.
The CRP Test is normally recommended whenever certain symptoms of bacterial infection like fever, chills, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, or nausea and vomiting are noticed. It can also be recommended to check the levels after you have been diagnosed with inflammation and are undergoing treatment. A decrease in the CRP levels indicates that the treatment you are given is working.
What Does the CRP Blood Test Results Indicate?
The CRP Test is done to check for any fluctuations in the C-reactive protein levels. The CRP Test normal range is 0.9 mg per deciliter i.e., 0.9 mg/dl. Many factors given below can disrupt the levels of CRP:
- Smoking
- Sleeplessness
- Diabetes
- An injury
- Gingivitis
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Depression
- Common Cold
Moderate to high increases in CRP levels are indicators of inflammation in your body. However, the cause of the inflammation cannot be diagnosed with the CRP Test. Depending on the increase in CRP levels, further tests have to be done to diagnose any serious health conditions.
A moderate increase in CRP levels, i.e., 1.0 to 10 mg/dl, is an indication of any of the following health issues
- Autoimmune conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis, SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus), etc.
- Bronchitis
- Pancreatitis
- Myocardial Infarction
A marked increase in CRP levels, i.e., higher than 10 mg/dl, is an indicator of the following conditions:
- Severe injury
- Viral infection
- Systemic Vasculitis
- Severe Bacterial Infection
CRP levels higher than 50 mg/dl are considered severe and indicate a severe bacterial infection that needs immediate attention.
When the CRP levels are abnormally high, further tests will be suggested to diagnose the associated health condition. Elevated CRP levels help in identifying who needs a better follow-up and treatment after a heart attack or heart procedure.
A CRP Blood Test may also help in identifying the risk of heart disease when only cholesterol levels do not give a clear picture.
While higher CRP levels are normally discussed, there is no such thing as lower CRP levels since the normal range itself is less than 0.9 mg/dl. However, suppose a test result shows high CRP levels and subsequent results show lower levels – in that case, it means the treatment you are undergoing is effective in reducing the inflammation in your body.
Conclusion
Regular CRP Test is recommended to rule out certain serious medical conditions like the risk of heart disease. However, a higher CRP level does not always mean a medical condition that requires treatment. Your healthcare provider will be able to assess the need for further tests to diagnose the associated medical conditions depending on the severity of the increase in CRP levels.
