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Mito Health: Helping you live healthier, longer.

In-depth bloodwork & holistic health advice, backed by the latest longevity science. Only $399.

Mito Health: Helping you live healthier, longer.

In-depth bloodwork & holistic health advice, backed by the latest longevity science. Only $399.

Mito Health: Helping you live healthier, longer.

In-depth bloodwork & holistic health advice, backed by the latest longevity science. Only $399.

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

CRP and Inflammation: What Levels Are Risky and How to Respond
CRP and Inflammation: What Levels Are Risky and How to Respond
CRP and Inflammation: What Levels Are Risky and How to Respond
CRP and Inflammation: What Levels Are Risky and How to Respond

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: 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?

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.

References:

  1. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/23/14905

  2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11211361

  3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3394171

  4. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/chronic-inflammation

  5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5441268/

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The information provided by Mito Health is for improving your overall health and wellness only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We engage the services of partner clinics authorised to order the tests and to receive your blood test results prior to making Mito Health analytics and recommendations available to you. These interactions are not intended to create, nor do they create, a doctor-patient relationship. You should seek the advice of a doctor or other qualified health provider with whom you have such a relationship if you are experiencing any symptoms of, or believe you may have, any medical or psychiatric condition. You should not ignore professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of Mito Health recommendations or analysis. This service should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. The recommendations contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. You should always consult your clinician or other qualified health provider before starting any new treatment or stopping any treatment that has been prescribed for you by your clinician or other qualified health provider.

© 2025 Mito Health Inc.

Company

Inquire

Join our newsletter

The information provided by Mito Health is for improving your overall health and wellness only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We engage the services of partner clinics authorised to order the tests and to receive your blood test results prior to making Mito Health analytics and recommendations available to you. These interactions are not intended to create, nor do they create, a doctor-patient relationship. You should seek the advice of a doctor or other qualified health provider with whom you have such a relationship if you are experiencing any symptoms of, or believe you may have, any medical or psychiatric condition. You should not ignore professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of Mito Health recommendations or analysis. This service should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. The recommendations contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. You should always consult your clinician or other qualified health provider before starting any new treatment or stopping any treatment that has been prescribed for you by your clinician or other qualified health provider.

© 2025 Mito Health Inc.

Company

Inquire

Join our newsletter

The information provided by Mito Health is for improving your overall health and wellness only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We engage the services of partner clinics authorised to order the tests and to receive your blood test results prior to making Mito Health analytics and recommendations available to you. These interactions are not intended to create, nor do they create, a doctor-patient relationship. You should seek the advice of a doctor or other qualified health provider with whom you have such a relationship if you are experiencing any symptoms of, or believe you may have, any medical or psychiatric condition. You should not ignore professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of Mito Health recommendations or analysis. This service should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. The recommendations contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. You should always consult your clinician or other qualified health provider before starting any new treatment or stopping any treatment that has been prescribed for you by your clinician or other qualified health provider.

© 2025 Mito Health Inc.