Chronic low-grade inflammation: which blood values give insight

Not every inflammation is a sharp, painful reaction. There is also a much quieter form, chronic low-grade inflammation, where your immune system stays slightly switched on. You do not feel clearly ill, but something runs in the background. Researchers link this smouldering type to a range of conditions that build over the years (Furman 2019). In our experience this variant is still often overlooked.

This article belongs to the overview about inflammation markers in your blood and covers the quiet, chronic side.

What is low-grade inflammation?

In acute inflammation your immune system fires strongly and then settles. In low-grade inflammation the activation is mild but ongoing. The values are not extremely high, but sit just above what you would expect for a long time. That makes it hard to notice: no fever, no clear pain, at most vague fatigue.

Which blood values give insight?

hs-CRP is mainly known from heart research, where a slightly raised value is linked to a higher vascular risk. Read more in hs-CRP and heart risk, and the CRP versus ESR difference in CRP or ESR.

What role does lifestyle play?

Lifestyle and low-grade inflammation are connected, though the link is rarely simple. Factors linked to smouldering inflammation include extra weight, little movement, poor sleep, smoking and long-term stress. Here I will take a position: low-grade inflammation is not a buzzword to pin every ailment on. It is a real biological process, but not a diagnosis you read from one value. Dietary angles, with nuance, are in lowering inflammation with diet.

How to have this investigated?

A sensitive inflammation measurement is often part of a broader panel. At Vitalcheck you can choose the basic health checkup without a referral, or the extended health checkup for a broader view. You can read up on CRP. Every result is reviewed by a BIG-registered doctor.

References

• Furman D, et al. Chronic inflammation in the etiology of disease across the life span. Nat Med. 2019. PMID: 31806905.
• Sproston NR, Ashworth JJ. Role of C-Reactive Protein at Sites of Inflammation and Infection. Front Immunol. 2018. PMID: 29706967.
• RIVM. Chronic disease and lifestyle.

Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.