C-reactive protein (CRP) is an early warning sign in the body that increases when there is inflammation, infection, or other health issues. But “How much CRP level is dangerous?” Let's explore the blog and learn when you should be worried about CRP levels and what they mean! We’ll also discuss the causes, factors affecting them, and many more important facts!

How Much CRP Level is Dangerous?

When Is a CRP Level Too High? A CRP (C-reactive protein) level above 50 mg/dL is considered dangerous or too high. What does it indicate or mean?

It could mean the body is inflamed, which is a sign of health problems like rheumatoid arthritis.
Also, it may signal the risk of acute bacterial infections such as hepatitis C, malaria, and dengue.
Additionally, it may indicate the chances of severe injuries.

But the level of danger is different for everyone. A doctor must check and decide if the CRP levels are okay or need treatment. So, there's no one-size-fits-all answer about how dangerous the CRP level is.

What are the Symptoms of Elevated CRP Levels?

The symptoms of elevated CRP levels can depend on the underlying condition. Some of the symptoms of high CRP levels can be:

Exhaustion
Pain
Muscle stiffness
Soreness
Weaknesses
Low-grade fever
Chills
Headache
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Indigestion
Difficulty sleeping
Insomnia
Unexplained weight loss

Note: If you experience any of these symptoms that indicate abnormal levels of CRP, see a doctor as soon as possible!

What Causes High CRP Levels?

The following can be the potential causes of increased CRP levels:

Bacterial or Viral Infections: Viral Infections like flu, common colds, or bacterial infections such as pneumonia or sepsis. Bacterial infections are responsible for about 90% of the higher cases of CRP levels.
Autoimmune Diseases: Research says rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease are the common causes of high CRP levels.
Injury or Trauma: Physical trauma, recent surgery, or burns can also cause a spike in CRP levels.
Heart Disease: There can be inflammation in blood vessels, associated with heart attacks or strokes.
Obesity: Excessive fat, particularly around the abdomen, is linked to chronic inflammation, which increases CRP levels.
Smoking: Tobacco can also contribute to increased CRP levels as it constantly causes inflammation and irritation.
Poor Lifestyle: An unhealthy diet, high stress, and lack of exercise may lead to elevated CRP levels.
Cancer: Certain types of cancers can trigger chronic inflammation, which, in turn, increases CRP levels.

What Factors Affect CRP Levels in Humans?

The potential factors responsible for affecting CRP levels are:

Lifestyle: Smoking, obesity, diabetes, or little exercise can mildly increase CRP levels.
Age and sex: Older patients and women are more prone to have higher CRP levels.
Medications: Statins can incorrectly lower CRP. Moreover, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, and aspirin can reduce CRP levels.
Infections: Viral and bacterial infections can increase CRP levels.
Recent illness or injury: They can falsely increase your CRP levels.
Underlying health issues: Diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure can also be associated with a risk of increased CRP levels.
Diet: Consuming around 6 servings of fruits and veggies can impact your CRP levels.
Crash diets: These diets help lose weight quickly, which increases inflammation and causes muscle loss, leading to high CRP levels.

Evaluating CRP Levels Using C-reactive Protein Test

Doctors may order a C-reactive protein (CRP) test if they show symptoms of high CRP levels. This is how the test is performed:

Doctors will check for a vein to draw blood. Once they find it, they will clean and disinfect the area.
Then, they will take a blood sample by inserting a needle into your vein.
A small amount of blood will be collected in the test tube.
Next, they will put a bandage over the area.
The entire process will take around 5 minutes.

After the procedure:

The blood sample will be sent to labs for testing. You will get the results in 1-2 days or sometimes longer. The results will provide the following information:

Blood test name and what was measured in the blood.
Measurement of the blood test result.
Normal measurement range for the test.
Normal or abnormal or high, or low results.

How is CRP Used for Diagnosing Inflammation & Infection?

Here, know how?

General Indicator of Inflammation: When inflammation occurs, the liver releases CRP in the bloodstream, which serves as a nonspecific marker.
Diagnostic Tool: Used as a diagnostic tool to detect the presence and severity of inflammation. However, it can't identify the cause of inflammation.
Monitoring Treatment: Tracks the effectiveness of the treatment provided for inflammatory conditions. For instance, low CRP levels show that the specific treatment is working effectively.
Differentiating Inflammatory and Non-inflammatory Conditions: By measuring CRP levels in the blood, it can differentiate between these two conditions. High CRP levels suggest inflammation, while low or normal levels indicate the absence of extreme inflammation.
Early Detection of Infections: When used along with additional diagnostic tests, CRP can rapidly detect inflammation, which can help identify the presence of bacterial or viral infections.

Role of CRP Levels in Diagnosing COVID-19

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a crucial biomarker in detecting COVID-19 as it may detect overproduced inflammatory cytokines during this infection. Higher CRP levels were evaluated in COVID-19 patients with low oxygen saturation compared to ones who had high oxygen saturation.

Here's the table listing the CRP levels in different groups of COVID-19 patients:

Patient Group	CRP Level (mg/L)
Hospitalized	47.6 - 51.4 mg/L
Recovered	9.6 - 26.2 mg/L
Death	100 - 113 mg/L
Admitted to the ICU with or without gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms	15.7 and 7.9 mg/L
Admitted to the ICU	43.1 - 62.9 mg/L
Mild	7.6 - 23 mg/L
Non-severe	10 - 12.1 mg/L

By evaluating CRP levels in COVID-19 patients, doctors can know about the progression of this condition and identify those who are at higher risk of developing severe illness and complications.

What is the Normal Range of CRP Levels?

The level of CRP can differ depending on the lab and method used to measure it. The normal CRP values are less than 0.3 mg/dL. This means you do not have any infections or chronic inflammation conditions. According to one finding, the following are the different ranges of CRP levels and what they may indicate.

CRP LEVEL	CLASSIFICATION	POTENTIAL REASON
Less than 0.3 mg/dL	Normal	No diseases or infections
0.3-1.0 mg/dL	Normal or little elevation	Obesity, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, pregnancy, cold, and depression
1.0-10.0 mg/dL	Moderate elevation	Bodily inflammation, pancreatitis, heart attack, and bronchitis
More than 10.0 mg/dL	Marked elevation	Acute bacterial infections, systemic vasculitis, viral infections, and major trauma
More than 50.0 mg/dL	Severe elevation	Acute bacterial infections

Should I Need to Worry if my CRP Levels are Abnormal?

A slightly higher CRP level does not always indicate something is wrong. In these conditions, it is normal to have higher levels than the normal range:

Common cold
Diabetes
Obesity
Cigarette smoking
Pregnancy
Recent minor injury
Periodontitis (chronic gum infection)
Insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep)
Depression

In case of high CRP levels, healthcare providers perform relevant tests to diagnose the exact cause and provide the right treatment.

Treatment for High CRP Levels

The treatment options may include:

1. Managing the Underlying Cause:

If high CRP levels are due to infections, the healthcare providers may prescribe antibiotics.
If diabetes is the cause, medications like metformin and lifestyle changes like a balanced diet or regular exercise can help improve insulin sensitivity.

2. Medications:

Statins: Lower CRP levels, especially in people with a high risk of cardiovascular disease.
Aspirin: Reduces CRP levels in people living with cardiovascular conditions.

3. Lifestyle Modifications:

Balanced Diet: Consuming anti-inflammatory foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fatty fish, and fruits. Limit the use of processed foods, red meat, or sugary snacks.
Regular Exercise: Practice moderate-intensity exercise like swimming or cycling regularly for 30-45 minutes.
Stress Management: Engage in stress-relieving activities such as meditation, deep breathing, and yoga to lower stress-related inflammation.
Quitting Smoking: This habit contributes to significant increases in CRP levels and heart disease.

4. Monitoring and Follow-up:

Regular CRP tests and follow-ups with a doctor are crucial for effective monitoring of the effectiveness of the treatment. If needed, the providers can adjust strategies.

Tips to Reduce High CRP Levels

By considering some lifestyle and dietary changes, you can maintain your CRP levels. You can take these steps:

Consume a heart-healthy diet.
Exercise regularly.
Treat the underlying conditions.
Lower your cholesterol levels.
Maintain your body weight.
Take prescribed medications or supplements.
Manage your high blood pressure and diabetes.
Practice yoga, deep breathing exercises, and meditation.
Limit alcohol and avoid smoking.
Follow good sleep hygiene.

Adopt these changes for the long term to maintain your CRP levels. However, always seek guidance from doctors before making any lifestyle or dietary changes.

Summing Up

We hope our article helps you know “how much CRP level is dangerous”. Knowing severely high CRP levels can help you manage inflammation and prevent the risks of certain health problems. If the level is too high, contacting the doctor to understand the diagnosis will be better. Doctors will discuss the next step in reducing the chances of severe health issues. You can also consider some measures to reduce the elevated CRP levels.

How Much CRP Level is Dangerous? Understand the Risk