Donating blood for analysis, during a routine examination or treating with malaise, we naturally cope with the results. And we hear from the mouth of the doctor a more or less detailed report on what our level of sugar, cholesterol, white blood cells and what is our "soy". So most often perceived by ear, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate - ESR.
How to determine this indicator
If you leave blood in a test tube for a while, it will clot. By adding a specific drug to it, laboratory assistants prevent this process in order to allow red blood cells to precipitate. At the same time, pure transparent plasma remains above it, its height is measured after an hour. Thus, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is measured in millimeters per hour.
ESR in the blood. Norm in women
This is a pretty inert indicator. He only says that there is an inflammatory process in the human body, not indicating the cause. So, an increased level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be with ordinary angina, and with a malignant neoplasm.
Doctors, of course, do not ignore this indicator, but it is impossible to make a diagnosis, knowing only the level of ESR in the blood. The norm in women, for example, is generally very unstable. This is due to many factors.
Although the average normal rate of erythrocyte sedimentation is considered to be from two to fifteen millimeters per hour, but monthly hormonal changes also affect the level of ESR in the blood. The norm in women is often determined individually. If you regularly visit one doctor, then he will have the opportunity to determine your personal rate. In this case, chronic diseases, age, allergies, hormonal levels and other factors will be taken into account.
Donate blood to check the erythrocyte sedimentation rate should be in the morning, on an empty stomach, unless, of course, this is an emergency. In order to more accurately determine the indicator, it is better to donate blood for analysis several times - so you can see it in dynamics.
Why determine the level of ESR
Even if we take into account that the norm of ESR of blood in women is a variable value. She can help the doctor figure out, for example, the causes of your dizziness. And decide whether there will be enough vitamins and walks in the fresh air (at a normal rate), or should you conduct a more in-depth examination of your body to find out why the level of ESR in the blood has increased. The norm in women, for example, during pregnancy reaches forty-five millimeters per hour - this is three times higher compared to the usual state! Moreover, in the first trimester, the ESR level can be reduced, and by the third it gradually increases and remains so in the postpartum period.
The reasons for the change in the indicator
So, if there is an increased ESR in the blood, the causes may be different. Among them are the following:
• infectious and inflammatory diseases;
• injuries, fractures;
• operations;
• collagenoses.
If there is no inflammation, and the ESR level is high, then this is possible:
• tumors;
• poisoning;
• kidney disease.
A decrease in ESR in the blood often indicates the presence of anemia, allergies, liver diseases, a high concentration of red blood cells, and the effects of some drugs.
The level of ESR in the blood is a kind of rapid test of your body, like pressure or body temperature, it is especially difficult to say something specific, guided by this indicator of a woman's condition.