A cardiologist has explained a key test people should take to predict if they’re at risk of a heart attack – and it’s not about cholesterol. Dr Dmitry Yaranov who is a heart transplant surgeon took to his Instagram page to explain how a blood test can predict if people are at a higher risk.
And he explained that people’s cholesterol levels could in fact be ‘normal’ but in fact the levels inflammation could be soaring. He said this is: “The blood test that predicts heart attacks. It’s Not Cholesterol. CRP — C-reactive protein — is a marker of inflammation, and high levels are linked to up to 3x higher risk of heart attack.
“And here’s the twist: your cholesterol could be “normal”… and CRP still dangerously high.”
He explained that chronic inflammation is a red flag for a series of issues related to hearts: “Chronic inflammation = damaged arteries, plaque instability, and higher risk of stroke, heart attack, PAD.”
He said the test is called hs-CRP (high-sensitivity CRP and added it could be used with other markers like cholesterol and Lp(a) for a more complete picture of cardiovascular risk.
Dr Yaranov’s tips for lowering CRP:
• Eat more whole, plant-forward foods
• Move your body (yes, even walking)
• Lose excess weight
• Quit smoking
• Ask your doctor about statins or anti-inflammatories
A follower said: “I work out and eat healthy most days but I had high CRP for years and borderline high Cholesterol .I read and article about how Statins can lower CRP so I talked to my dr and he agreed to put me on a statin and my CRP dropped significantly from like 20 to 2.0 .I feel like this was a huge lifesaver for me and so easy . Also I only take my statin 3 days a week . Most drs wont recommend a CRP so ask them to run it .”
In the UK, you can get a CRP (C-reactive protein) test via your GP surgery or a private clinic, or through a at-home finger-prick test kit. A standard CRP test detects inflammation from infections or tissue damage, while a High-Sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) test identifies low-level inflammation associated with chronic conditions like heart disease. Results are typically available within a day or two for home tests, or up to a week for clinical tests.