How do I lower my hs-CRP?

Rule out the obvious first — a cold, a dental problem, or a hard training session in the last two days will all raise it. Retest after two weeks before acting on a single elevated value. This is the marker most often over-interpreted from one reading. Reduce visceral fat, which is the most common chronic driver. Get periodontal disease treated. It is a genuinely underrated contributor. Stop smoking.

Inflammation · Reference range

hs-CRP

Q: What is a normal hs-CRP level?

Most laboratories report < 3 mg/L as normal. Standard CRP assays cannot resolve the sub-3 mg/L range — you need the high-sensitivity version.

Q: What is an optimal hs-CRP level?

< 1 mg/L. AHA/CDC risk stratification: under 1 mg/L low risk, 1–3 average, above 3 high.

Also reported as: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein · hsCRP

An acute-phase protein made by the liver, measured with a high-sensitivity assay able to resolve the low range where cardiovascular risk stratification happens.

Lab reference range

< 3 mg/L

Standard CRP assays cannot resolve the sub-3 mg/L range — you need the high-sensitivity version.

Optimal target

< 1 mg/L

AHA/CDC risk stratification: under 1 mg/L low risk, 1–3 average, above 3 high.

Guideline thresholds from: AHA/CDC scientific statement on inflammatory markers

Check your result

Enter the number from your report. Nothing is sent anywhere — this runs in your browser.

Your hs-CRP (mg/L)

Where the thresholds sit

Band	Range (mg/L)	Note
Low risk	< 1	—
Average risk	1–3	—
High risk	3–10	—
Acute inflammation	> 10	Above 10 mg/L reflects an acute process — retest in 2 weeks before interpreting for cardiovascular risk.

Why it matters

The most accessible marker of chronic low-grade inflammation, which sits upstream of most age-related disease. Elevated hs-CRP predicts cardiovascular events independently of lipids, and the JUPITER trial showed that treating people selected on hs-CRP rather than LDL alone reduced events.

What raises it

Any infection, injury or recent surgery
Visceral adiposity — fat tissue is itself inflammatory
Smoking
Periodontal disease, which is a commonly missed cause
Autoimmune conditions
Intense exercise in the preceding 48 hours

What lowers it

Weight loss
Statins
Regular moderate exercise
Smoking cessation
Treating dental disease

How to move it

1Rule out the obvious first — a cold, a dental problem, or a hard training session in the last two days will all raise it.
2Retest after two weeks before acting on a single elevated value. This is the marker most often over-interpreted from one reading.
3Reduce visceral fat, which is the most common chronic driver.
4Get periodontal disease treated. It is a genuinely underrated contributor.
5Stop smoking.

What moves this marker

Interventions on this site with evidence behind them for this specific marker. None of them replaces working out why yours is where it is.

Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)Grade A

2 g EPA/DHA combined

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)Grade B

600-1,200 mg daily

Healthspan Foundation

Protocol · Ongoing

Recovery Optimization

Protocol · 4 weeks

What makes a single reading misleading

Non-specific by design — it tells you inflammation is present, not where it comes from.
Values above 10 mg/L should not be used for cardiovascular risk assessment at all.
Hormonal contraception and hormone therapy raise it without implying the same risk.