Despite the number of diets on the market that focus on heart health and the latest advances in medical research, heart disease still ranks high as America's number one killer. Studies show that 1.2 million people will have heart attacks this year; nearly half of them will die. Yet, a number of these people may have no known heart conditions. Women over 50 years of age have a tough battle with heart disease. In the past, doctors turned to hormone replacement therapy and have found it to no longer be a solution; in fact, hormone replacement therapy can actually raise the risk of having a heart attack. So, how do we beat those odds? Doctors, health professionals and health organizations have told us over and over again that a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol along with regular exercise will help to reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

 So why is it that some individuals find out they have heart disease by experiencing a heart attack? Is it possible that the danger may lie in hidden inflammation? For too long we have focused on fats and the concept that they block the center of arteries. Cardiologists now believe that most of the time the cause of a heart attack is a collection of fatty material that grows hidden in the wall of the artery rather than in the center opening of the artery. They call these areas "vulnerable or unstable plaques" because they have a lot of inflammation, and are more likely to rupture. Once the unstable plaques suddenly rupture, they trigger the sudden formation of a large blood clot that quickly blocks the flow of blood and leads to a heart attack.  

 Here's the real shocker, only 15 percent of heart attacks are caused by these blockages. The majority of heart attacks ? up to 85 percent ? are caused by a combination of inflammation and fats that angiograms, heart scans and stress tests can't detect.

Imagine for one moment, a simple blood test that could scan a sample of blood for signs of inflammation. Furthermore, suppose doctors could use the results of this test to detect early signs of heart disease and allow doctors to aid a patient in taking the proper precautions to prevent serious damage. Does such a test even exist? If so, is it possible that this simple test could help to save lives? Yes, the test does exist and yes, it can save lives.

The test is called C-reactive protein test (CRP). A CRP test is a blood test that measures the level of CRP in the blood. CRP is a protein that is produced by the liver in response to inflammation. High levels of CRP in the blood mean that there is inflammation somewhere in the body. Unfortunately, a CRP test cannot determine the location of inflammation or its cause, therefore other diagnostic tests must be done to determine the cause of inflammation. But, interestingly enough, studies have shown that CRP is the only inflammatory marker that is an indicator of heart health. Even though the test is not a replacement for traditional cholesterol and blood tests, knowing your CRP could help you get a more accurate assessment of your overall risk of suffering a heart attack.

About 30% of fatal heart attacks occur in people who have what doctors call a "desirable" cholesterol level. Because such a high number of heart attacks occur in "healthy" individuals, scientists began searching for additional factors like CRP. Recent studies have found that CRP tests are almost twice as good as cholesterol screening in prediction of a person's risk of a heart attack. CRP testing might be helpful for those of you who have below-average cholesterol levels and think that your risk of a heart attack or stroke must also be very low. Most patients do not require regular or ongoing testing. CRP levels can also be used to monitor the progress of treatments aimed at reducing chronic inflammation. As inflammation in the body decrease, so do CRP levels. Therefore, some patients will have a series of CRP tests performed over the course of their treatment.

A CRP reading under 1 indicates a low risk for heart disease. A CRP reading of 1 to 3 puts you at moderate risk and having a level of 3 or more puts you at higher risk for heart disease. Generally, CRP is not found in the blood of a healthy patient. There are some instances when a patients CRP levels may be elevated, and the patient can have a low risk for heart disease. However, there are some conditions that can cause small amounts of CRP to be found in the blood. Some of these conditions include diabetes, glucose intolerance and high blood pressure. (Having these health ailments, particularly elevated blood pressure, can lead to heart disease). In addition, there are other factors that may interfere with CRP results. For example, eating or drinking anything 12 hours prior to testing can skew CRP readings. Pregnancy, periods of stress and various medications (statin drugs, corticosteroids and oral contraceptives) can increase CRP levels. Heart attacks and unstable angina can lead to elevated CRP levels along with rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and inflammation of lungs, cancer, post-operative infection, injuries, burns and heat strokes. A CRP level greater than 1 doesn't mean you should panic. Once again, this is why other diagnostics test should be done as well to determine the cause of inflammation.

Here are the 4 things you can do to lower your CRP levels:

 · Eat a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables, these foods posses an anti-inflammatory response.

· Reduce the amount of saturated fat, trans fatty acid consumption to help limit the LDL build-up in artery walls.

· Taking supplements such as essential fatty acids can have an anti-inflammatory effect in the blood vessels.

· Exercising regularly can also contribute to reduced CRP levels, as higher levels of physical activity are associated with reduced inflammation.

Can lowering CRP levels actually lower heart attack risk? Studies are still underway, but right now scientists aren't sure whether it's the lower CRP or lifestyle changes motivated by a high CRP - like weight loss, lower blood pressure, and lower cholesterol - that cut risk. One thing is for certain, inflammation is fueling killer heart attacks. A diet high in calories and saturated fats, along with smoking and a high rate of alcohol consumption can cause arteries to become inflamed. The best way to put out that fire is with a healthy lifestyle. The bottom line: Inflammation is a major player in heart disease. Doctors are convinced that CRP testing is currently the best way to find inflammation, which can will help you know your risk and make efforts to prevent damage or regain optimal health. So the next time you have a blood test, be sure to ask that a CRP test be included.