A study in the July 20, 2005 issue of Journal of American Association has found a growing body of research supporting the benefits of C-Reactive Protein as the test of choice on the war against heart disease.

Considering over half the strokes and heart attacks in the U.S. each year occur in people with normal cholesterol levels, researchers have been looking for other ways to identify people at risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

According to lead researcher Paul M. Ridker M.D., testing for blood levels of a C-reactive protein was a better risk indicator of heart attacks and strokes regardless of a patient's cholesterol levels.

Researchers have discovered that inflammation weakens the fatty plaque clogging the arteries and causes it to break apart -- triggering a heart attack or stroke.

This inexpensive blood test is unique in that it measures inflammation in the body thereby providing doctors with powerful new way to determine a patient's risk of heart disease.

Dr. Grisanti's Comments

CRP is again in the news and is once again proving to be a much needed blood test for people concerned about heart attacks and strokes.

Considering over 50% of heart attacks and strokes occur in people with normal to low cholesterol, it is time that we begin looking at the real causes of heart disease and stop buying into the all the media false information on cholesterol as the ultimate villian.

Reference

Ridker PM, Rifai N, Cook NR, Bradwin G, Buring JE.Non-HDL cholesterol, apolipoproteins A-I and B100, standard lipid measures, lipid ratios, and CRP as risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women. JAMA. 2005 Jul 20;294(3):326-33