What Are the Common Causes of High ESR?

The ESR test measures the rate at which the red blood cells of your blood drop to the bottom of the blood test tube, and for this test, most labs choose the Westergren technique. A sample of your blood will be placed in a Westergren tube, a specialized vial, and the sedimentation rate will be measured by the technicians.  

If you have symptoms such as joint pain, muscular soreness, or unexplained fever, ESR test may be prescribed by your doctor to check for internal inflammation. However, this test is frequently used with other blood tests for accurate diagnosis. A high ESR means there is an elevated chance of infections, injury, and inflammation in your body, but remember, no diagnosis can be made through the ESR test alone. 

What is the ESR Blood Test?

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, or sed rate, is a blood test that can reveal whether your body has inflammation. If the body is inflamed and a sed rate test result falls outside of the normal range, that result might be caused by a variety of health issues. When diagnosing or monitoring the course of an inflammatory condition, your healthcare provider may combine the results of a sed rate test with other testing to make the diagnosis accurate.

During the test, the Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, of the blood sample slowly sink to the bottom of a tall, thin tube, and the cells may group together because of inflammation. These clusters sink to the bottom faster than individual cells because they are heavier, and that is how the test is measured.  

Inflammation happens when your immune system responds to an injury or combats foreign substances such as bacteria, viruses, or poisons in the body. Your physician can identify many inflammatory illnesses with the aid of a sed rate test, and it can also be the first test to detect infections, cancer, arthritis, and blood disorders. If your doctor sees high ESR symptoms, they'll consider that test result in addition to results from other tests, and a physical examination, to narrow down a diagnosis. 

Common causes of High ESR Levels 

A high ESR indicates inflammation brought on by an underlying ailment, which is often a chronic condition such as inflammatory bowel disease, persistent infections, and autoimmune disorders. Several forms of cancer are also among the illnesses that can cause increased ESR levels, and that’s why it is critical to do more tests to determine the underlying cause and treat it appropriately. 

When you receive a report with high ESR levels, it is better to wait for your doctor to establish a diagnosis based on your general health, gender, age, and results from other tests. There is no elevated ESR treatment because the ESR test does not indicate one single illness, and doctors may do more tests to make the diagnosis.  

It is critical that you provide the doctor with precise information about your medical history and any medications you are taking because some medications and supplements might have an impact on your ESR levels. 

Let us see the four most common illnesses that can be diagnosed because of high ESR:

1. Autoimmune Diseases
   The most common diagnosis that doctors make by checking the high ESR symptoms is autoimmune diseases. Your immune system fights against bacteria and viruses that enter your body to keep you safe from illness because your immune system recognizes the bacteria as foreign invaders, and then eliminates them. When you have an autoimmune illness, your immune system unintentionally targets the healthy cells in your tissues and organs, which can result in serious health conditions.
   
   There are more than 80 autoimmune illnesses, and they can impact nearly every body part, which is a frightening factor. For instance, hair loss is a symptom of the autoimmune skin condition alopecia areata, and autoimmune hepatitis has an impact on the liver. The pancreas is attacked by the immune system in type 1 diabetes, and the immune system might target other body parts, such as the joints, lungs, and eyes, in rheumatoid arthritis.
   
   The cause of autoimmune disorders is unknown; however, they cannot be acquired from other individuals. Since autoimmune disorders do tend to run in families, and so, some people may be predisposed to a condition because of certain genes they inherited. An autoimmune illness may be brought on by viruses, certain chemicals, or other environmental factors if you already carry the corresponding genes and these autoimmune illnesses affect millions of people across all age groups.
   
   Compared to males, women are far more likely to acquire several autoimmune illnesses, and unfortunately, the risk of developing another autoimmune illness is higher if you already have one. The afflicted body component determines the symptoms of an autoimmune illness and inflammatory symptoms, such as redness, swelling, and pain, are brought on by a variety of autoimmune disorders.
   
   
2. Polymyalgia Rheumatica
   The illness known as polymyalgia rheumatica results in stiffness and discomfort in the hips, shoulders, and neck muscles, and is often one of the causes of high erythrocyte. It is usually experienced by those over the age of 50 and is more frequent in women, and having stiffness after a long rest is the major symptom. Fever, weakness, and loss of weight are further symptoms especially when Polymyalgia rheumatica appears suddenly, instead of gradually.
   
   It is uncertain what causes polymyalgia rheumatica, and there is no particular test to diagnose it yet. That is why your doctor will look at your symptoms, medical history, physical examination, and inflammation-related lab testing, such as the ESR test result for diagnosis.
   
   
3. Kidney Diseases
   Each of your two kidneys is around the size of your fist, and they are located right below the rib cage and close to the center of your back. Nephrons, which are microscopic structures, make up each kidney, and your blood is filtered by them to keep your body operating correctly. Urine is produced when waste and surplus water are separated by the kidneys, and the urine passes via tubes known as ureters. Any disruption of this process can be harmful to your health and can be one of the causes of high erythrocyte test results.
   
   Most kidney diseases affect the nephrons, and this damage may mean that the kidneys are unable to remove waste. Diabetes, high blood pressure, or having a close relative with kidney disease increases your chance of developing this disorder. Nephron destruction from chronic kidney disease occurs gradually over several years, however, other kidney issues, such as cysts, stones, and infections can quicken the process.
   
   
4. Rheumatoid Arthritis
   Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of joint function, and even though it commonly affects the wrist and fingers, it can affect any joint of your body. Rheumatoid arthritis affects more women than men, and it most frequently affects older adults and typically begins in middle age. The illness may only last for a brief period, or your symptoms may come and go, but in its most severe form, it can affect you continuously.
   
   Osteoarthritis, the typical kind of arthritis that frequently occurs with aging, is not the same as rheumatoid arthritis because RA can impact the eyes, mouth, and lungs, unlike Osteoarthritis.   The etiology of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but researchers guess that your hormones, the environment, and your genes may all be involved in this illness. Medicine, lifestyle modifications, and surgery are used as treatments and these can lessen discomfort and swelling and slow down joint deterioration. 

Final Remarks

The time it takes for the red blood cells in a sample of your blood to settle at the bottom of a vertical container is known as erythrocyte sedimentation rate or ESR. The distance (measured in millimeters) that red blood cells have dropped in the test tube in an hour will be the result of your sed rate test. One must remember that a high ESR or a low ESR result doesn’t help your doctor make an instant diagnosis; instead, the doctor will give you more tests to make a diagnosis after checking your results. There is no particular elevated ESR treatment for this reason as the test results are only indicating factors, not hard proof of an illness.  

If you need an ESR test, call Pathkind Labs and book an appointment now!