If you have recently made some blood tests and you notice this ESR term, you should know that E comes from erythrocytes, S comes from sedimentation and R comes from rate. Therefore, ESR means the rate of your erythrocytes’ sedimentation. But there is more to come in the following lines:
What is ESR?
ESR is a blood test which shows the sedimentation rate of the red blood cells. These cells are the ones responsible with revealing certain affections which we can interfere with ( the sedimentation rate of red blood cells can show an affection or how developed this is). We cannot say that this is a blood test to give a certain diagnose, it is only a probable indication. In other words, this is considered to be a blood test which shows infections, without being a specific test because it cannot establish types of inflammation or infections. One thing is for sure: this blood test can confirm them or not.
Interpreting the values of your ESR and choosing a certain treatment can only be made by a specialist. At least, this is how things should be done. Usually, the treatment refers to the basis pathology therapy, and not to the ESR’s treatment.
What are the normal ranges for ESR?
ESR has the following normal ranges:
- Men<15 mm/h.
- Women<20 mm/h.
These values are valid only for people under 50 years old. After this age, to the already existing values, you’ll need to add 5 more percentages. But also this case is somehow limited: people over 85 years will get, as a bonus, other 5 more percentages.
For children, the normal ranges are lower than 10 mm/h.
What leads to ESR’s increment?
High values of ESR indicate an infection (acute or chronic). The causes which determine out of the normal range values of ESR are the following:
- Pregnancy
- Medication
- Anemia
- Autoimmune diseases
- Infections
- Obesity
- High cholesterol
- Age
- Effort.
What you need to do when ESR is high?
The most logical explanation would be to always look for the causality. When you figure it out, you can solve many issues. And due to the fact that you are not a doctor, it is best advisable to go to a specialist.
All you have to do is get your blood test done. It is not expensive, nor difficult to go through. It’s a routine blood test which any normal human being should do. How often? Well once per year or when a doctor requires it.
When your ESR is high, go to a specialist and see what there can be done. This whole health stuff is not something to play with…So mind your mindless!
