A cardiologist has revealed an essential test that can help determine if people are prone to a heart attack, and surprisingly, it’s not linked to cholesterol levels. Dr. Dmitry Yaranov, a heart transplant surgeon, shared on his Instagram that a specific blood test can indicate a higher risk of heart incidents.
According to him, even if a person’s cholesterol levels appear ‘normal,’ their inflammation levels might be significantly high. He referred to this test as “The blood test that predicts heart attacks. It’s Not Cholesterol. CRP — C-reactive protein — is a marker of inflammation, with high levels correlating to up to three times greater risk of heart attacks.
“And here’s the twist: your cholesterol could be “normal”… and CRP still dangerously high.”
He further elaborated that chronic inflammation signals serious heart-related issues: “Chronic inflammation = damaged arteries, plaque instability, and an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and PAD.”
The test, called hs-CRP (high-sensitivity CRP), can be used alongside other indicators like cholesterol and Lp(a) for a comprehensive evaluation 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
One user commented: “I exercise and eat healthily most of the time but had high CRP for years and borderline high Cholesterol. I came across an article about how Statins can reduce CRP, so I discussed it with my doctor who agreed to prescribe statins for me, and my CRP significantly dropped from 20 to 2.0. I believe it was a life-changer and quite simple. Plus, I only take my statin three days a week. Many doctors don’t suggest a CRP test, so make sure to ask them to conduct one.”
In the UK, you can obtain a CRP (C-reactive protein) test from your GP, a private clinic, or through an at-home finger-prick test kit. A standard CRP test detects inflammation due to infections or tissue damage, whereas a High-Sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) informs about low-level inflammation associated with chronic conditions like heart disease. Home test results are generally available within a couple of days, whereas clinical tests might take up to a week.
