Inflammation causes an increase in a substance known as C-reactive protein (CRP). It appears that CRP levels are an important indicator of coronary artery disease, stroke, heart attack and survival after heart attack. They may signal the likelihood of recurrent cardiovascular events and stroke. The higher the level, the worse the prognosis.
CRP numbers may also predict the success of balloon angioplasty. A simple blood test is all that is needed to measure CRP levels.
LifeWire, a part of The New York Times Company, provides original and syndicated online lifestyle content. Nancy Larson is a St. Louis-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in dozens of local and national print and online publications including CNN.com, The Weather Channel, Health magazine and The Advocate.
