What is CRP (C-reactive protein)?

CRP on your report

Reported as CRP or hs-CRP. MedlinePlus gives a healthy standard CRP as about 0.8 to 1.0 mg/dL or lower.

Many Indian labs report in mg/L instead (10 times larger numbers), so check:

• the unit
• the range on your own report

What CRP tells your doctor

A high CRP can come from short-term causes like an infection, or long-term ones like autoimmune conditions or bowel disease.

A more sensitive version, hs-CRP, picks up small rises and is used to judge heart disease risk.

Low-grade inflammation can also come with:

• obesity
• poor sleep
• smoking
• depression

Women tend to run slightly higher.

What moves your CRP

For everyday low-grade inflammation, habits matter.

A diet rich in vegetables, fruit, dals, whole grains, nuts and seeds, with fewer fried foods, sweets and processed snacks, tends to help.

These also lower it over time:

• regular activity
• losing weight if you carry extra
• good sleep
• not smoking
• handling stress

A high CRP from infection or illness needs your doctor, and it should settle once the cause is treated.