Jun 4, 2025
CRP and Inflammation: What Levels Are Risky and How to Respond
What your CRP level reveals about your inflammation risk—and how to bring it down naturally.
Longevity
Written by
Mito Team
Most of us associate inflammation with swelling, redness, or pain. But the most dangerous type often has no symptoms at all. Chronic inflammation quietly raises your risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and more.
That’s where CRP comes in. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a blood marker that helps detect hidden inflammation. In this post, we’ll break down what CRP levels mean, how much CRP level is dangerous, and what you can do to lower it naturally and effectively.
Inflammation 101: The Good, the Bad, and the Chronic
Inflammation isn’t always bad. In fact, acute inflammation is part of your body’s natural healing process. It manifests with pain, redness, swelling, heat, and loss of function. But when inflammation sticks around for too long or gets triggered without a real threat, it becomes a long-term problem.
Chronic inflammation is a key driver of conditions like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Long-term inflammation damages the DNA, leading to cancer.
It’s also involved in conditions like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS). Recent studies show that there might be a connection between inflammation and mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and trouble thinking clearly.
Often, people have high inflammation levels without knowing it, until a major health issue shows. That’s why tracking CRP levels in blood is so valuable.
CRP: Your Body’s Inflammation Alarm System
CRP is a protein made by your liver in response to inflammation. It rises quickly when inflammation flares up, and drops once things settle down. That makes it a useful marker to detect and track ongoing inflammation.
There are two main types of CRP tests:
Standard CRP: Detects large spikes in inflammation, often because of infection or injury.
High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP): Picks up subtle, chronic inflammation that increases your risk for heart disease, even if your cholesterol is normal.
What CRP Levels in Blood Actually Mean
So, how much CRP level is dangerous? It depends on the context and which test you’re using.
General CRP Levels
CRP (mg/L) | Interpretation | Possible Causes |
< 0.3 | Normal | Healthy baseline |
0.3–1.0 | Slightly elevated | Obesity, stress, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle |
1.0–10.0 | Moderate elevation | Autoimmune disease, metabolic issues, infections |
> 10.0 | High | Acute infection or major inflammation |
> 50.0 | Very high | Severe infection, trauma, or chronic disease flare-up |
hs-CRP and Heart Disease Risk
hs-CRP (mg/L) | Cardiovascular Risk |
< 1.0 | Low |
1.0–3.0 | Moderate |
> 3.0 | High |
If your hs-CRP is above 3.0, even with good cholesterol, you’re still at higher risk of heart attack or stroke.
“Normal” CRP Test Doesn’t Always Mean You’re Safe
Here’s where things get tricky: standard CRP tests may miss low-grade, chronic inflammation. You might feel fine and still be at risk. That’s why hs-CRP testing matters. It catches smoldering inflammation that could otherwise go unnoticed until a health crisis occurs.
At Mito Health, we offer hs-CRP testing to get the context of your inflammation risk and full health profile.
What Causes High CRP?
CRP is a general marker. It doesn’t tell you where the inflammation is coming from, just that it exists. Here are some common reasons for high CRP levels:
1. Lifestyle Triggers
Poor diet of processed foods, sugar, and trans fats
Sedentary lifestyle
Smoking
Heavy alcohol use
Chronic stress
Poor sleep
2. Medical Conditions
Autoimmune diseases
Obesity and metabolic syndrome
Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections
Heart disease
Cancer
Trauma or injury
3. Hormonal and Genetic Factors
Pregnancy
Birth control or hormone therapy
Genetic variants in the CRP gene
How to Reduce CRP Levels Naturally
Reducing elevated CRP levels means reducing the inflammation that causes them. The good news? Many of the most effective strategies are simple lifestyle shifts.
1. Adopt an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Focus on whole foods: vegetables, fruits, olive oil, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish. Limit added sugar, refined carbs, fried food, processed meat, and alcohol. Try the Mediterranean diet—it’s been shown to lower CRP and reduce heart risk.
2. Move More
Regular physical activity lowers inflammation and improves metabolic health. Aim for a mix of cardio, like walking or biking, and strength training each week.
3. Manage Stress
Stress raises CRP through hormonal pathways. Try deep breathing, mindfulness meditation, or yoga daily.
4. Prioritize Sleep
Aim for 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep each night. Poor sleep is one of the most overlooked reasons for high CRP.
Medications That May Help (When Needed)
If lifestyle changes aren’t enough or if inflammation is severe, medications may be used to lower CRP:
Statins: Lower both cholesterol and inflammation, especially helpful in reducing heart disease risk.
Biologics: Target specific inflammatory pathways (often used in autoimmune disease).
NSAIDs: Help with short-term inflammation, but aren’t a long-term fix.
At Mito Health, we focus on integrating your full health picture—bloodwork, symptoms, goals, and even past labs—to guide smarter, more personalized interventions.
Don’t Ignore Silent Inflammation
Your CRP level can be a wake-up call, even if you feel fine. Chronic inflammation doesn’t always shout, but it whispers quietly for years before a disease shows.
Understanding your CRP levels in blood is a powerful step toward long-term health. Whether you’re managing a known condition or just want to optimize your health, tracking CRP can help you stay ahead of hidden dangers.
At Mito Health, we help you interpret your CRP results in context and identify the causes of high CRP. We’ll build a personalized plan to reduce your inflammation naturally or with targeted support based on your blood test results. Start with a Mito Health blood panel today.