According to the findings of a new study presented at the meeting of the American Heart Association in New Orleans, a simple blood test can help asses one’s risk of heart disease. Based on determining the level of a specific protein called CRP, the test could indicate a risk of heart disease or stroke even among those who appear to be in good health because they have low or normal cholesterol levels.

If your high sensitivity CRP is high, you should use statin therapy regardless of your cholesterol level, the researchers at Texas Heart Institute in Houston said. CRP is a phase protein produced by the liver and by the adipocytes. Elevated levels of the protein may indicate an inflammation that can be associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

The study showed that for those with elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels, statins could reduce their risk of heart disease.

“This blood test can act as a tie-breaker in making treatment decisions,” Dr. Anthony Steimle, chief of cardiology at Kaiser Permanente's Santa Clara Medical Center, said. “It would be particularly beneficial for patients that are at intermediate risk for coronary artery events, for somebody with risk factors but not enough to absolutely need medication.”

The blood test, known as CPR, costs about $20.

Health disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Paul Ridker, the lead investigator from Harvard Medical School in Boston said that half of heart attacks and strokes happen among apparently healthy men and women with normal or low levels of cholesterol. Doctors may prescribe statins for seemingly healthy people if they have other factors that put them at risk of heart disease.