Sometimes when you go to a doctor, he writes a blood test, right? You must have seen the three letters 'ESR' on it. Many people think, 'What is this ESR?' when they see it. It actually gives an important clue about some problem in our body. So today, let's talk about what this ESR is, why it is done, and what the report says.
What is ESR simply?
ESR is an abbreviation for the long words 'Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate'. In Sinhala, it means the speed of blood sedimentation. But none of us use that long name, we usually just say ESR.
This is a very simple blood test. It basically checks if you have "inflammation" anywhere in your body. Inflammation, simply put, is swelling somewhere in our body caused by an infection, injury, or other medical condition.
Think of it this way. You take a small amount of your blood, put the red blood cells in a thin, tall glass tube (a test tube) and leave them there for about an hour. Normally, over time, these red blood cells will settle to the bottom of the tube. However, if there is inflammation somewhere in your body, special proteins in the blood cause these red blood cells to stick together and form little clumps. Because these clumps are heavier, they sink to the bottom of the tube faster than normal single cells.
The ESR test measures the speed at which red blood cells sink to the bottom. The faster the cells sink to the bottom, the more inflammation there is in the body.
At what point does a doctor order an ESR test?
If you have one or more of the symptoms below, your doctor may recommend this test to help find the cause.
- Persistent headache
- Joint swelling, stiffness, and pain
- Pain in the neck, shoulders, or pelvis
- Appetite
- Weight loss without any specific reason
Although an ESR test alone cannot diagnose a disease, it provides an important clue to look out for the following medical conditions:
| Condition | Simple Explanation |
|---|---|
| Infections in the body | Especially things like bone infections. |
| Cancer | Some types of cancer can increase inflammation in the body. |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | What happens in this case is that our own immune system attacks our own joints. |
| Lupus | This is also a problem with the immune system. It can damage the skin, joints, and other organs. |
| Other inflammatory conditions | For example, conditions such as inflammation of the blood vessels (Systemic Vasculitis) or muscle stiffness and pain (Polymyalgia Rheumatica). |
Also, if you are already receiving treatment for a disease like this, doctors use this ESR test to see how well the treatment is working for you . When the treatment is successful, the ESR value should gradually decrease.
How do I prepare for this blood test?
There's no need to do anything special to prepare for this, like not eating or drinking. However, there are a few things you should tell your doctor before the test.
- Any medications you are taking (including vitamins or supplements).
- That is if you are pregnant.
- That is, on the days when you have your period.
Because these things can affect the ESR value. At the lab, a nurse will take a small blood sample from a vein in your arm. You may feel a little pain when the needle is inserted, but it will go away in a few minutes. Then a small plaster will be applied to the area.
What does the ESR report mean?
You can usually get the report in one or two hours. The value on the report is in millimeters per hour (mm/hour). This means how far the red blood cells have fallen to the bottom of the tube in one hour.
Normal ESR values vary from person to person, depending on age and gender.
| Group | Normal ESR Value in mm/hour |
|---|---|
| Men under 50 years old | 0 - 15 |
| Men over 50 years old | 0 - 20 |
| Women under 50 years old | 0 - 20 |
| Women over 50 years old | 0 - 30 |
| Children | 0 - 10 |
Other reasons for an elevated ESR value:
A high ESR is not always a sign of a serious illness. The following reasons can also cause an elevated ESR:
- Anemia
- Aging
- Kidney problems
- Thyroid diseases
- Pregnancy or menstruation
- Excessive body fat
- Some medications, such as birth control pills and vitamin A
Is ESR alone sufficient for diagnosis?
This is the most important thing. No, the ESR value alone is not enough to diagnose a disease.
Remember, the ESR test only tells you if there is inflammation in the body. It can't tell you exactly where it is or what caused it. It's like seeing smoke but not being able to tell exactly where the fire is.
Therefore, your doctor may order several other tests in addition to the ESR value.
- CRP (C-reactive protein) test: This is another important blood test that looks for inflammation.
- Other blood tests: Other specific tests depending on the symptoms.
- Imaging Tests: Tests such as X-rays and scans.
- Biopsy: Sometimes, a small piece of affected tissue is removed for examination.
Therefore, it is important to discuss your ESR report and any other tests that need to be done with your doctor. He or she will be the one who will take all of this together, determine your exact condition, and prescribe the necessary treatment.
Take-Home Message
- ESR is a simple blood test that checks for inflammation in the body.
- An elevated ESR is a warning sign of a medical condition, but it is not a diagnosis in itself.
- ESR values can also change due to non-medical reasons such as pregnancy, aging, and medications.
- Always consult with your doctor to understand the meaning of your ESR report and what steps to take next.
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