Although ESR is a very important indicator, most people know little about it. Some may not even know what the norm is. However, let's first find out what kind of indicator.
What does ESR mean?
In fact, this is not a term, but an abbreviation. Complete decoding of ESR is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
The study of this indicator began in 1918, when the Swedish scientist Robin Fareus discovered that at different ages and during pregnancy, as well as during various ailments, red blood cells behave differently. Later, other scientists, Westergren and Winthrop, began to work on creating methods for studying their behavior. Even now, this parameter is measured during a general blood test. However, when ESR is increased, what this means is that few people understand. But you shouldn’t panic thoughtlessly from such news, too many factors can increase the level of red blood cells. And even if you have some kind of inflammation or illness, it is likely that now you can cure them without difficulty. The main thing is to immediately contact a specialist.
What is the norm of ESR?
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is influenced by factors such as age and gender.
The causes of increased ESR in the blood in women can also be pregnancy. But, of course, there are many other factors. The following ESR table for women will help determine your norm (note that these indicators do not take into account special conditions of the body, which will be discussed a bit later).
Age | ESR rate |
From 14 to 18 years old | 3 - 17 mm / h |
From 18 to 30 years | 3 - 20 mm / h |
From 30 years to 60 | 9 - 26 mm / h |
60 and older | 11 - 55 mm / h |
During pregnancy | 19 - 56 mm / h |
Everyone under 14 years old has the same ESR rate. Only age matters, therefore, if you are looking for a norm only for girls and you can’t find it, you don’t need to worry.
Age | ESR rate |
Newborns | 0 - 2.8 mm / h |
From 1 month | 2 - 5 mm / h |
2 to 6 months | 2 - 6 mm / h |
7 to 12 months | 5 - 10 mm / h |
2 to 5 years | 5 - 11 mm / h |
6 to 13 years old | 4 - 12 mm / h |
Age is not the only criterion. Factors may be the most unexpected, for example, a too heavy breakfast at best, and at worst a malignant tumor.
If ESR is elevated, what does it mean?
There can be many reasons for this test result. But basically, doctors share 6 main reasons why women have ESR higher than normal:
- Infections Red blood cells must respond to a variety of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, because they can cause disease. Therefore, it will be easier to determine them by a blood test.
- Inflammation. Then increases not only the red blood cell count, but also the level of white blood cells.
- Suppurations. As a rule, in this case, the symptoms may be more pronounced, but when immunity is lowered, it will be the ESR that will show what is the matter.
- Autoimmune diseases. In general, this process is due to the fact that antibodies produced by the body begin to destroy healthy and healthy cells, in which case red blood cells play a key role.
- Cancerous diseases. Any oncology causes a reaction in the blood, and therefore the red blood cell count will also change.
- Physiological conditions. In such cases, the causes of increased ESR in the blood of women can be the following: pregnancy, feeding the baby, overweight, anemia, dystrophy, a sharp decrease in weight, and others.
- The destruction of bone marrow and blood cells. As a rule, with this state of the body, ESR increases most.
Research Methods
The deviation of red blood cells from the norm can be either an increase or a decrease. Mostly there is an increase in ESR, but there are enough cases of its decrease. There can be many factors: poisoning, hepatitis and poor blood circulation, as well as simply blood pathologies. As a rule, the latter appears already in adulthood. Also, under certain conditions, vegetarianism can cause a change in the level of red blood cells.
There are three methods by which this parameter is usually tracked: Westergren, Padchenkov, Vintroba.
The most universal technique that is used worldwide to determine ESR is the Westergren method. Blood from a vein is mixed with sodium citrate and left for a while (about an hour) in a test tube. The results obtained by this method are considered more accurate.
Pachenkov’s method differs from the previous one only in that blood is taken from capillaries and is used only in the countries of the former USSR. The results are the same as in the first method, but usually Westergren is trusted more.
The latter, the Vintrob method, is special in that the blood is not diluted, but an anticoagulant is added to it and analyzed in a special tube. This method has drawbacks, since if the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is too high (more than 60 mm / h), analysis cannot be done.
What determines the result of the analysis?
Numerous factors can affect the activity of red blood cells, therefore, when determining the results and how they correspond to the norm, many details are taken into account. The causes of increased ESR in the blood of women can be the time of the procedure, age, lifestyle, health status and other nuances.
The indicator mainly affects:
- floor;
- taking oral contraceptives;
- anemia;
- time of the procedure;
- immunoglobulins in the body;
- allergy;
- menstruation;
- a hearty breakfast;
- inflammation.
Red blood cells settle due to gravity, because they weigh more than plasma. ESR alone will not show what the problem is, but along with other parameters it will already be possible to make a diagnosis. Also, analysis can help detect hidden ailments and pathologies, due to which it will be possible to start their treatment in time. Any therapist will be able to determine a possible diagnosis with obvious other symptoms, but in some specific cases a more detailed diagnosis will be needed.
How to return ESR to normal?
When something in the body goes beyond a healthy state, any person has a natural desire to return everything back to normal.
And how to do it? Only cure the cause, that is, a disease that caused an increase in ESR. Of course, self-medication will not lead to anything good. Instead of looking for the necessary antibiotics and other drugs on your own on the Internet, it is better to immediately contact a specialist. It is he who will prescribe the necessary course of treatment after determining the diagnosis. After a successful cure for the disease, ESR will return to normal after some time (2-4 weeks in adults and up to 6 weeks in children).
With anemia, iron-containing products, proteins and some alternative methods will help to restore the indicator, but in this case it is also better to consult a doctor.
If you are just dieting, fasting or experiencing a special physiological state (pregnancy, lactation, menstruation), then the indicator will return to the desired level as soon as your normal physical condition is established. In this case, there is nothing to worry about.
Increased ESR in children
If you are worried about your child, then you should know that this indicator often increases with infectious diseases and inflammations, especially with a violation of the norm of other blood test parameters and a general deterioration in physical condition, as well as with typical symptoms of diseases. Another factor may be the use of certain drugs.
The following is a list of diseases that are characterized by an increase in ESR during the examination: infections (acute respiratory infections, bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, cystitis, hepatitis, fungus, cystitis, etc.), liver, kidney, biliary tract, anemia, tuberculosis, blood diseases, gastrointestinal intestinal tract, cardiovascular system, metabolic disorders, endocrine gland dysfunction (diabetes), oncology, bleeding, trauma.
In childhood, most diseases and ailments are easier to tolerate than in conscious or especially older age, but only if they are detected in time. Therefore, it is very important to regularly show the child to the doctor.
Conclusion
We were able to figure out what ESR means, what is its norm, what can be the reason for violations, and how not to suffer from them. Remember that only a doctor can make the correct conclusions about the test results.
If, after receiving the results of a blood test, you want to find out the causes of increased ESR in the blood of women, then first make sure that your physiological condition is normal. If your body is not affected by any of the special factors listed above (fasting, pregnancy, etc.), then you should go through a more detailed examination by a doctor. Only a specialist can, taking into account the individual characteristics of the body, calculate what is wrong with you after a detailed diagnosis. That is why it is important to regularly undergo a preventive examination with the whole family, because the desire to stay healthy plays a key role. Although this factor was discovered long ago, it still continues to help doctors fulfill the Hippocratic oath, and mere mortals to enjoy a healthy life.