Women's Health Information - C-Reactive Protein (CRP) & Heart Attack



	Are you at risk for a heart attack? C-Reactive Protein (CRP) & Heart Attack Risk by Sue Spataro, RN, BSN Join our health discussion groups \| Search our site

	Thin, jogging, low cholesterol, and still having a heart attack? Sounds crazy doesn't it? Here you have gotten that cholesterol level down, lost those 20 pounds and now are regularly jogging a couple of miles a day. And you STLL are at risk of having a major heart attack! Did you know that.... over half of the first time heart attacks experienced in the United States strike people who have normal cholesterols, eat right and regularly exercise? A new test may tell you what your REAL status is Recent research has demonstrated that even with "doing everything right" you still may be at risk for heart disease. A new simple and inexpensive blood test called CRP- C-reactive protein- can tell you what your REAL heart status is. What is C-RP? C- reactive protein (CRP) is a substance produced in our liver as part of a response to inflammation in the body. Researchers for a long time have speculated that inflammation has a major role in the development of heart disease. They have also known that CRP levels are higher in people with heart disease, but they have just developed a test that detects levels of " high-sensitivity CRP" or hs-CRP in the blood. Researchers studying data collected from a study of 28,000 postmenopausal women say that an elevated level of hs-CRP can predict a first heart attack, and it can make that prediction even in a woman whose LDL -- or bad cholesterol -- is at 130, the recommended goal level. This, says Jonathan Abrams, MD, an expert in prevention of heart disease, is big, big news. These results may change the way heart specialists assess the risk of heart attack, he says. 12 different "markers" for heart disease Paul M. Ridker, associate professor of medicine at Harvard School of Medicine in Boston, says that this latest study actually compared the reliability of 12 different "markers" for heart disease. Among those were cholesterol, cigarette smoking, obesity, and diabetes -- all known risk factors for heart disease. "High-sensitivity CRP was the strongest single predictor," he says Ridker reports that the risk of heart attack was more than four times higher for women with the highest levels of hs-CRP, compared to those with the lowest levels. "Roughly half of all the heart attacks that occur are among individuals who really do not have obvious evidence of a lipid abnormality or high cholesterol levels. So we have been looking for novel ways of determining high risk," said Dr. Paul Ridker, a cardiologist at Harvard Medical School. Ridker says this finding means that it may be time to consider using powerful cholesterol-lowering drugs, called statins, in women with elevated hs-CRP. Some large studies of these drugs have found that they can reduce the number of heart attacks among people with only moderate elevations in cholesterol. Because elevated hs-CRP appears to increase risk even in women whose "LDL is at goal levels, it may be that initiating statin therapy could prevent first heart attack." The CRP test, approved by the FDA last November, costs about $20. Experts predict that the new results and other studies will persuade doctors to start ordering it more often. What should you do if it turns out you have a high CRP? Researchers say you should stop smoking, exercise, lower your blood pressure, lose weight and eat a heart-healthy diet, no matter what your cholesterol level. In addition, cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins also seem to fight inflammation, so they, too, can be helpful. The new test, experts say, might eventually be recommended for everyone over 40, allowing millions to prevent heart disease which is all to silent until it is too late. Kathryn Petras author of: "The Premature Menopause Book" said about the risk of heart disease As for heart disease, according to recent research, women who go through menopause before the age of 35 have a two to three fold increased risk of heart disease. Women who've had their ovaries removed before the age of 35 have a sevenfold risk. If you're older than 35 but still younger than 40, your risk is only a bit lower -- about twice the chance of heart disease. ....It was yet another reminder that it's vital for me to be vigilant about my health now. See the rest of the interview Sue's Soy Kitchen Have you thought about soy? Stop by our kitchen where we have prepared some tasty treats which are healthy too! "Two soy beans up! - - Way up!" - - Soybean Entertainment Weekly ""I can't believe I ate the whole thing!" - - Soy & Tofu Times Meet the author Linda Ojeda, Ph.D "Her Healthy Heart" & "Menopause Without Medicine" interview & FREE excerpt Alcohol: The Double Edged Sword In her latest book, Her Healthy Heart, Linda again is in front of the health pack. She rings the warning bell for all women to wake up and recognize that heart disease is as big a problem for women as it is for men. Not only do women have a six times greater chance of dying from heart disease when compared with deaths from breast cancer, women are often misdiagnosed and do not receive the proper heart care. Her Healthy Heart is filled with practical and useful ways for women to keep their hearts healthy and prevent heart disease. She also provides natural ways to prevent and reverse heart disease.		more Personal Health Books HotFlash Meno Support book \| video more weight loss books more Fitness Videos Interview with author Linda Ojeda more Healthy Living Books more dieting books more Healthy Living Books

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