Recent research shows that the development of heart disease is in part due to inflammation in the body. Cardiac C-Reactive Protein for this inflammation and aids in the detection of heart disease.
C-reactive protein -- or CRP -- appears to be correlated to heart disease risk. Inflammation (swelling) of the arteries has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.
Doctors can test your blood for CRP. The body produces CRP during the general process of inflammation. Therefore, CRP is a "marker" for inflammation, meaning its presence indicates an increased state of inflammation in the body.