Who is at Risk for Elevated C-Reactive Protein?
Although anyone is at risk for elevated C-reactive protein, the chances of it leading to heart disease are much higher for people already at risk for cardiovascular disease. These risk factors include: • Being a male over 45 or a woman over Diabetes or taking medication to control blood sugar • Doing less than 30 total minutes of physical activity on most days • Having a body mass index of 25 or higher • Having a family history of heart attack or stroke • Having a history of heart attack, stroke, or transient ischemic attack (TIA) • Having a total cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL or higher • Having an HDL or “good” cholesterol level of less than 40 mg/dL • Having high blood pressure • Receiving a diagnosis of carotid artery disease or peripheral arterial disease • Smoking, or living or working with people who smoke every day.
