C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced by the body during periods of inflammation.  Though not condition specific, it is a significant indicator of some current health problem.  Many things can cause an increase in CRP (from osteoarthritis, to cancer, to the common cold or other infection), but in the absence of any specific disease, an increased CRP level poses a significant risk of heart disease.  As a matter of fact, CRP is the first indicator of heart disease recommended by the American Heart Association in over 20 years, specifically high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).   

hs-CRP is most often used to help predict a healthy person's risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Landmark's hs-CRP test adds an important additional piece of information to a doctor's traditional assessment of overall cardiac health.  CRP is produced when the arteries around the heart become inflamed by atherosclerosis.  Even in the absence of traditional blockages, inflamed artery walls can become softened and develop weak areas that can suddenly rupture.  Plaque also develops more quickly in inflamed arteries, increasing the risks of heart attack or stroke.   

Healthy men and women with normal cholesterol levels are still at risk for future heart attack if they have elevated levels of hs-CRP.  Even people who have hs-CRP results in the high end of the normal range have 1.5 to 4 times the risk of having a heart attack as those individuals with CRP values in the lower half. 

It is  recommended that a person wait at least 2 weeks after an acute or chronic inflammatory event (such as a cold, infection, or tissue trauma) to measure hs-CRP.

Note that post-menopausal women on hormone replacement therapy will usually have a higher-than-normal CRP level.