A new study suggests that adopting a healthy lifestyle may help reduce blood levels of a marker associated with an increased risk of heart disease. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a result of inflammation, an immunological reaction that contributes to the production of artery-clogging plaque. CRP levels of greater than 3 milligrams per liter (mg/L) are connected with an increased risk of heart disease.
The trial enrolled participants at risk of heart disease who were already enrolled in a Netherlands study. The researchers examined 1,794 participants with established cardiovascular disease who had CRP values between 0.8 and 3.1 mg/L at their initial visit. After a median follow-up duration of nearly ten years, individuals' CRP levels had decreased just marginally on average at the second visit. CRP levels, on the other hand, decreased significantly more in persons who quit smoking, lost weight, or increased their physical activity. According to the authors, the findings show that healthy lifestyle changes help to reduce inflammation, which in turn may help to reduce cardiovascular risk. Their study was published in the journal Atherosclerosis in May 2020.
This is still monitored research.
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