India, July 18 -- Most people associate heart attacks with obvious warning signs like chest pain or shortness of breath. But what if your body could reveal the risk years in advance through a simple blood test? In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Keshava R, HOD and Consultant, Cardiology, Manipal Hospital, shared how monitoring CRP (C-reactive protein) levels can help detect hidden inflammation and predict your risk of a heart attack long before symptoms show. (Also read: Cardiologist says too much protein is 'ticking time bomb' for early heart attacks in your 30s and 40s )

"C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is an important marker of inflammation in the body. It rises in response to conditions like infections (e.g., cough, cold, fever, pneumon...