Very often, in the results of analyzes, people see such an abbreviation as ESR. This indicator may indicate the presence of various diseases. Such an analysis is made in any laboratory at public and private hospitals, it is carried out easily and simply, therefore it is very popular in identifying some ailments. Today we learn what ESR is, in men what norm is established, as well as what the decrease or increase in this indicator indicates.
How to read the abbreviation?
The abbreviation ESR stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It is worth saying that this is a very important indicator of human health . The analysis is done in order to determine whether pathological processes take place in the body or not. The ESR indicator, of course, can vary, which allows it to be used for diagnostic purposes, and it also makes it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of a particular therapy. But the deviation of the value from the norm will speak of acute or chronic inflammation, the presence of a tumor or other ailment in the body.
Reasons for the increase
There are cases when the norm of ESR in the blood in men increased, this may indicate the occurrence of some adverse process in the body. This indicator can even warn a doctor about a disease even before the onset of its first signs. Therefore, if the rate of ESR in the blood of men is increased, then a detailed examination is necessary.
This test may be the basis for establishing a specific diagnosis. It will be useful in detecting a large number of ailments:
- Tuberculosis.
- Arthritis, rheumatism.
- Skin infections.
- Thyroid ailments.
- Various purulent, inflammatory processes.
- The death of tissues.
- Infections of the heart and its valves.
- Diseases of the kidneys, liver and biliary tract.
- Continuous infection (presence in the body of inflammation of an unclear nature).
- Malignant formations.
Reasons for the decline
Sometimes in the practice of doctors there are situations when the ESR values are below normal. In men, this happens with the following conditions and diseases:
- Polycythemia is a malignant tumor process in the circulatory system.
- Starvation and against this background, a decrease in muscle mass.
- Circulatory failure.
- Spherocytosis is an abnormality in which leukocytes of irregular shape are found in the blood.
- Sickle cell anemia.
- Corticosteroid use.
- Kidney and liver disease.
- Vegetarianism.
Standard metrics
Now we find out what are the standard values of ESR in men. The norm of this indicator varies depending on the age of the person. That is, the values can change, while remaining within the standard framework. So, the normal boundaries of ESR in men are as follows:
- From 18 to 20 years - 12 mm / hour.
- From 20 to 55 years - 14 mm / hour.
- After 55 - 19-32 mm / hour.
Degrees of Deviation
Discrepancies from acceptable ESR parameters are usually divided into the following categories:
- Minor deviations that are within acceptable limits.
- ESR in men, the norm of which is exceeded by 15-30 points, indicates violations in the body of a man - there is a presence of a mild infection.
- Deviation from normal values by 30-60 units. This indicates the presence in the human body of a serious inflammatory process.
- The norm of ESR in the blood in men is exceeded by more than 60 units. This is an occasion for an immediate visit to the doctor.
Analysis preparation
An important point to which you should pay attention is the correct preparation for the examination. Before the doctor appoints the man to take a general blood test, he should consult him, tell about the rules of preparation. Fulfillment of the doctor’s instructions will contribute to more accurate results and their correct interpretation.
So, you need to remember the following rules:
- The procedure should be performed on an empty stomach in the morning.
- The day before the event, you can not overeat, eat fatty and spicy foods, as well as various alcoholic beverages.
- It is necessary to abstain from smoking at least 1 hour before blood sampling.
- In the laboratory where the analysis will be carried out, do not worry. It’s better to rest for a few minutes and calm down, because this is just a prick in the finger.
If everything is done correctly, it remains only to wait for the result of the analysis - whether the indicator is satisfactory, the rate of ESR in a person who donated blood is exceeded or lowered. Doctors recommend donating blood once a year to prevent the occurrence of hidden health problems.
How is ESR determined?
After a specialist takes material from a person for analysis, he releases the patient, and he gives the reagent for diagnosis. In the laboratory, coagulate is added to the tube so that the blood does not clot, then it is placed for 1 hour in a narrow beaker. Red blood cells are heavier than plasma, so they soon begin to sink to the bottom. And it turns out that the blood will be distributed into 2 segments: lower and upper. And it is precisely by the height of the plasma layer that experts estimate ESR in millimeters per hour.
If a person is healthy, then the speed with which the cells descend will be very small. If the inflammatory process is present in the body, then the level of ESR increases. The norm in women and men of this indicator is different. This is due to the different chemical composition of the blood. If for men the standard indicators are: 12, 14 and 32 mm / hour, then for women the acceptable numbers are: 4-15 mm / hour (age from 20 to 30 years), 8-25 mm / hour (from 30 to 60 years) and 12-50 mm / hour (after 60 years).
Reasons distorting the result
There are factors due to which the results of the analysis may be erroneous. This could be:
- With the wrong choice of anticoagulant.
- If a person is not prepared for analysis.
- If the laboratory assistant did not send blood to the laboratory on time.
- If the specialist used a needle too thin.
- If in the room where the analysis is carried out, the temperature conditions are not met. To get the right results, the study should be carried out in a cool room (18-25 degrees). At higher air temperatures, ESR increases, and at lower values it decreases.
If at least one factor has not been observed, the analysis should be retaken to achieve the correct research result.
Now you know what this or that analysis result means, and how the abbreviation ESR stands for. In men, the norm of this indicator varies depending on age: the older the person, the higher the acceptable values. If deviations from the normal value are detected, then this indicates the presence of some kind of disease. In order for the results of the analysis to be true, a person must correctly prepare for the laboratory test procedure.