CRP Is Not a Simple Inflammation Score

C-reactive protein, or CRP, is made by the liver in response to inflammatory signals in the body. That makes it a useful clue—but also a very broad one. CRP can rise for many reasons, from infection and injury to stress, poor sleep, or chronic disease risk, which is why the number is easy to overinterpret when taken on its own.

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  What CRP actually measures
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  Why CRP is a downstream signal, not inflammation itself
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  The difference between standard CRP and hs-CRP
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  What can raise CRP
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  What the number can and cannot tell you

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  There may be inflammatory signaling in the body
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  A result may deserve more context or follow-up
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  In some settings, hs-CRP can contribute to cardiovascular risk assessment

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  The exact cause of the elevation
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  Whether the source is temporary or chronic
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  Whether the inflammation is dangerous or mild
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  Whether you are healthy overall