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What is Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) Test for Blood?

What Is an ESR Test?

What Is the Need for an ESR Test?

When Should I Get the ESR Test?

What Are the Different Types of ESR Tests?

Who Should Take an ESR Test?

What is the Procedure for the ESR Test?

How to Prepare for an ESR Test?

How is ESR Measured in Blood Tests?

How to Read an ESR Test Report?

Normal Range of ESR in Blood Test

ESR’s normal range depends on age, gender, and the laboratory where it was performed. Typically, women have slightly higher ESR levels than men, meaning that with age, the normal range might increase.

ESR levels can indicate different health statuses ranging from normal to potentially high or low, which may require further medical evaluation. Normal and abnormal sed rate test results are mentioned in the table below:

Gender and Age Normal Test Results Abnormal Test Results
Females under 50 Between 0 and 20 mm/hr Greater than 20
Males under 50 Between 0 and 15 mm/hr Greater than 15
Females over 50 Between 0 and 30 mm/hr Greater than 30
Males over 50 Between 0 and 20 mm/hr Greater than 20
Children Between 0 and 10 mm/hr Greater than 10

Symptoms of High ESR

Symptom Description
Fatigue Persistent tiredness and lack of energy that doesn't improve with rest, often affecting daily activities.
Unexplained Weight Loss Losing weight without any diet or physical activity changes may indicate an underlying health issue.
Fever Elevated body temperature that persists, often signalling an infection or an inflammatory condition.
Joint Pain Pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints are frequently caused by inflammation or autoimmune disorders.
Muscle Aches General discomfort or pain in the muscles which can be related to infections, overuse, or systemic illness.
Headaches Frequent or severe headaches that might be due to inflammation, stress, or other underlying health problems.
Night Sweats Excessive sweating during sleep is commonly linked to infections, hormonal imbalances, or chronic conditions.

What Should You Do If You Have High ESR?

What Are the Causes of High ESR?

There are multiple causes of high ESR results. The conditions which cause high ESR are as follows –

Condition Description
Localised and Systemic Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases Infections and inflammation affect specific areas or the entire body, increasing ESR levels as the immune system responds to these conditions.
Ischemia or Tissue Injury Reduced blood flow to tissues causes damage and inflammation, leading to elevated ESR levels as the body attempts to repair the affected areas.
Certain Cancers like Multiple Myeloma and Lymphoma These cancers often trigger inflammatory responses in the body, leading to a rise in ESR levels as part of the body’s reaction to the malignancy.
Old Age As people age, natural changes in the body, including increased inflammation, can result in higher ESR levels, even in the absence of acute illness.
Pregnancy Hormonal and physiological changes during pregnancy naturally elevate ESR levels, reflecting the body’s adaptation to support the developing foetus.
Obesity Adipose tissue expansion in obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, which can raise ESR levels in affected individuals.
Thyroid Diseases Conditions like hypothyroidism and other thyroid-related disorders can influence ESR levels due to their impact on metabolism and immune function.
Autoimmune Diseases such as Lupus, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia, Temporal Arteritis, and Necrotizing Vasculitis These chronic autoimmune conditions cause ongoing inflammation throughout the body, leading to persistently high ESR levels as part of the disease process.
Infections such as Myocarditis, Rheumatic Fever, Skin Infections, and Tuberculosis These infections cause significant inflammation in the affected tissues or organs, resulting in elevated ESR levels as the body fights the infection.

Symptoms of Low ESR

Symptoms indicating low ESR may sometimes include experiencing a low ESR. Knowing these signs will enable you to comprehend your condition better, thus communicating effectively with your physician when necessary.

Symptom Description
Fatigue A persistent feeling of tiredness and lack of energy that does not improve with rest, often making daily activities difficult to manage.
Weakness A pervasive sense of physical powerlessness, where the body feels drained and unable to perform even routine tasks effectively.
Pale Skin A noticeable lightening of the skin tone often indicates a reduced number of red blood cells, which can affect the skin's natural colour.
Shortness of Breath Experiencing difficulty breathing, wheezing, or becoming breathless with minimal exertion due to decreased oxygen levels in the blood.
Dizziness or Lightheadedness Frequent episodes of feeling faint or unsteady, often due to insufficient oxygen reaching the brain, leading to potential falls or fainting.
Rapid Heartbeat An abnormally fast or racing heartbeat is often a response to low oxygen levels in the blood, as the heart works harder to circulate oxygen.
Cold Hands and Feet A sensation of coldness in the extremities, typically due to poor circulation or reduced blood flow, may also cause numbness.

What If ESR in Blood is Low?

What Are the Causes of Low ESR?

Low ESR levels can occur for a variety of reasons, often linked to underlying health conditions. The following conditions generally cause low ESR:

Condition Description
Congestive Heart Failure A chronic condition where the heart struggles to pump blood effectively, leading to abnormal circulation and potentially lower ESR levels due to poor heart function.
Low Plasma Protein Reduced levels of plasma proteins, which are essential for maintaining blood viscosity and clotting, can result in a decreased ESR as the blood's ability to settle is impaired.
Hypofibrinogenemia This condition is marked by low levels of fibrinogen, a crucial protein for blood clotting. Low fibrinogen levels can cause a significant reduction in ESR since fibrinogen contributes to blood cell aggregation.
High White Blood Cell Count An elevated white blood cell count, often a sign of infection or inflammation, may adversely affect ESR, causing it to be lower than normal as white cells interfere with red cell settling.
Polycythaemia Vera A rare blood disorder characterised by an overproduction of red blood cells, leading to thicker blood and a lower ESR because the increased cell mass hampers sedimentation.
Sickle Cell Anaemia A genetic disorder where abnormally shaped red blood cells cause blockages in blood vessels and result in a lower ESR, as these cells do not settle easily during the test.

Therefore, the ESR test is a blood test that helps your doctor measure the inflammation in the body. Generally, it is done with other tests to treat or diagnose a variety of inflammatory diseases. Based on the result of the test, the doctor might recommend more testing or refer to a specialist. Individuals experiencing inflammatory disease symptoms must consult with their doctor at the earliest.

FAQs about ECR in Blood Tests