Decoding Your Wellness Results: CRP (C-Reactive Protein)

8:00 AM

Following each wellness screening, you get a whole list of numbers back, but if you're not sure what they mean, you don't have the ability to make them work for you. One of the tests that Fort Wayne Metals has covered for employees in the last two years is CRP, or C-Reactive Protein. CRP is a protein, which is released by the liver in response to a tissue injury, infection, or other sources of inflammation.

One of the main reasons CRP was added to the wellness screening blood panel was because of its higher efficacy in predicting risk of a heart event than LDL (bad cholesterol). A normal artery is clear and blood flows through it smoothly.  An artery with plaque may block blood a little bit but the blood still can still often flow. However, when the artery has plaque and also becomes inflamed, the blood can get blocked and this can lead to heart attack. Because heart disease is a "silent killer," measuring CRP, along with knowing your blood pressure, is just one more way to know what is going on inside your body, and to know when it is time to see a doctor.  


An elevated CRP number does not, alone, serve as any kind of diagnosis, as any inflammation in the body can trigger a higher number. If you had an infection at the time of blood draw, have been injured, have a chronic inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn's, or you are pregnant, you would likely see your CRP elevated. A number outside normal values is a great indicator that it's time to follow up with your doctor to find out what may be going on. 

If you have any additional questions about CRP, please contact Lauren at extension 2137, or at lauren_almdale@fwymca.org.

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