A blood test for ESR - erythrocyte sedimentation rate - is mandatory in the process of initial diagnosis.

This study only helps to determine the further course of medical actions. After all, whatever the results of the analysis, they are not a reliable sign of pathologies. Deviation of ESR from the norm only indirectly indicates that an inflammatory process may occur in the body or an infection develops.

The value of research on ESR

The results of the analysis are very individual. Their upward trend is due to many reasons. There is no specific disease in which ESR increases.

This indicator is considered general, non-specific, since it does not contain an answer to the question of whether a person is healthy or sick.

But studying the results of the study:

• contributes to the accelerated and timely conduct of additional tests;
• in combination with the data of other analyzes allows you to objectively assess the state of the body;
• makes it possible to make forecasts for the short term;
• in dynamics indicates the course of the disease and how correctly the therapeutic methods are chosen. Approximation of ESR to the norm certifies that the medicines and procedures prescribed by the doctor are successful and the patient is recovering.

Regulatory ESR values depends on the person's age and gender.

The average for men is in the range from 8 to 12 units (millimeters per hour), for women - from 3 to 20.

With age, ESR grows and in respectable years reaches 50 units.

Elevated ESR: growth rates

For correct diagnosis, it matters how much the ESR exceeds the norm. Depending on this, four degrees of deviations can be distinguished:

• First, which is characterized by a slight increase in ESR. The rest of the blood counts remain normal.
• Second- the results of the analysis recorded an excess of ESR by 15–29 units. This signals that there is an infectious process in the body, which so far has little effect on its general condition. This situation is typical for colds. If they are treated, then the ESR will return to normal in a couple of weeks.
• Third- the increase in ESR is more than 30 units. Such an increase in the indicator is considered significant and serious. As a rule, the size of the ESR indicates the development of dangerous inflammatory or necrotic processes. It can take several months to heal the disease.
• Fourth- ESR rises by 60 units or more. This situation reflects an extremely difficult and life-threatening condition of the body. Immediate and thorough treatment is required.

Causes of increased ESR

An increase in ESR may be the result of the development of one or even several diseases at the same time. They can be classified like this:

• Viral, bacterial and fungal infections. They can be relatively mild, such as SARS or acute respiratory infections. But often a serious illness develops, in which the ESR exceeds the norm several times and reaches 100 mm / h. For example:
  • viral hepatitis;
  • flu;
  • pyelonephritis;
  • pneumonia;
  • bronchitis.
• Neoplasms, both benign and malignant. ESR increases significantly, but the level of leukocytes may remain normal.

  Festive video recipe:
  

  An increase in the index is more typical in the presence of single peripheral formations. Less commonly, it occurs when tumors of the lymphoid and hematopoietic tissue are present.

• Rheumatological diseases:
  • true rheumatism;
  • arthritis and arthrosis;
  • ankylosing spondylitis (Bekhterev's disease);
  • all systemic vasculitis;
  • diffuse connective tissue transformation: Sjögren's disease, Sharp's syndrome, systemic scleroderma and lupus erythematosus, polymyositis.
• Kidney disease and urinary tract dysfunction:
  • hydronephrosis;
  • urolithiasis disease;
  • nephroptosis (omission of the kidney);
  • pyelonephritis (more common in women);
  • glomerulonephritis.
• Blood diseases:
  • hemoglobinopathy, namely thalassemia and sickle cell anemia;
  • anisocytosis.
• The most severe conditions that are accompanied by an increase in blood viscosity:
  • intestinal obstruction;
  • diarrhea and vomiting;
  • food poisoning.

In almost 20% of cases, the cause of excess growth of ESR is poisoning of the body and rheumatological diseases. These pathologies lead to the fact that the blood becomes thicker and more viscous, and red cells begin to settle at a faster rate.

The greatest increase in ESR occurs when infectious processes are present and develop in the body. The value of the indicator does not increase immediately, but only a day or two after the onset of the disease. When the body recovers, ESR decreases slowly. It will take a month and a half before the indicator returns to normal.

An increase in ESR also occurs after surgery. It can also accompany post-shock states.

False increase in ESR

Exceeding the ESR norm is possible without the presence of ailments in the body. There are a number of natural causes:

• taking medications containing hormones;
• allergic reactions;
• overuse vitamin complexes, especially vitamin A;
• errors in the diet;
• individual characteristics of the body. Statistics show that almost 5% of the world's population has an accelerated red blood cell sedimentation reaction;
• bearing a child. In pregnant women, ESR can grow three or more times, which is not considered a pathology;
• insufficient absorption of iron by the body, its deficiency;
• age from 4 to 12 years. During this period, especially in boys, an increase in ESR is possible, associated with the development and formation of the body. There are no infections or inflammations.

The growth of ESR in excess of the norm in some cases accompanies certain chronic conditions. These include:

• elevated blood cholesterol levels;
• recent vaccination against hepatitis;

A high degree of obesity also causes red blood cells to drop faster than they should.

Features of increasing ESR in men and women

A slight increase in ESR was noted in approximately eight percent of men. And it is not considered a deviation from the norm. The explanation lies in the individual characteristics of the body of a particular person. The value of the indicator is influenced by lifestyle and the presence of bad habits, such as smoking and addiction to alcohol.

In the female body, increased ESR can be due to relatively safe reasons:

• the beginning of critical days;
• reception hormonal drugs, in particular contraceptives;
• eating habits: following a low-calorie diet, or overeating, consuming fatty foods shortly before a blood test;
• pregnancy.

Increased ESR during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the processes in the female body occur in a special way. The protein composition of the blood also changes somewhat, which is reflected in the ESR.

The indicator can jump up to 45 units, and this will not indicate the manifestation of diseases.

ESR begins to gradually increase as early as the tenth week of pregnancy. The highest value is usually recorded in the third trimester.

Almost a month after delivery, the ESR is also overestimated. The cause is anemia, which developed during the period of bearing the crumbs. It provokes a significant blood thinning and increases the rate of red cell sedimentation.

The size of the ESR is affected by the complexion of a woman. For thinner expectant mothers, the indicator rises to a greater extent than for puffy ladies.

A month or a half after the birth of the baby, the ESR quickly returns to normal.

But even such objective processes should not be ignored. Only a doctor can determine how normal the pregnancy is and whether everything is in order with the expectant mother.

Features of increasing ESR in children

The reasons elevated ESR babies are not much different from those that are typical for adults. Most often, this symptom manifests itself as a result of:

• infectious diseases, including chronic diseases;
• intoxication;
• allergic reactions;
• helminthiasis;
• metabolic disorders;
• injuries to limbs and other parts of the body.

Infectious-inflammatory processes in children manifest themselves not only by an increase in ESR. Other indicators are also changed, which are determined using general analysis blood. The general condition of the baby worsens.

A slight increase in ESR can be explained by such non-dangerous factors as:

• violation of the diet by a nursing mother: there is an excess of food with a significant content of fat in the diet;
• taking oral medications;
• the baby is teething;
• there is a lack of vitamins in the body.

Parents whose children have an indicator above the established norm are contraindicated in panic. It is necessary to carefully examine the child and establish the causes. Successful treatment of the underlying ailment will help normalize the ESR in a month or a month and a half.

Treatment of elevated ESR

An elevated level of ESR in itself is not a pathology, but only suggests the development of a disease in the body. Therefore, bringing the indicator back to normal is possible only after the treatment of the underlying disease.

In some cases, there is no need to lower it. For example, ESR will not return to normal until:

• the wound will heal or the broken bone will not heal;
• the course of taking a certain drug will come to an end;
• a child is born in the womb.

If ESR is elevated during pregnancy, it is necessary to think about how to prevent anemia or reduce its consequences.

Women in an “interesting” position need to take a responsible attitude to the diet and follow all the recommendations prescribed by the gynecologist. Your doctor may prescribe safe iron supplements or special dietary supplements.

In many cases, it is possible to lower the ESR to the limits of the norm only by eliminating the inflammatory process. To determine its cause, a general blood test is not enough, a deeper study of the patient's body condition is necessary. The doctor-therapist can appoint it. It is he who knows all the examination protocols and treatment tactics.

Medicines should be taken only on the recommendation of a doctor. Self-selected medicines, most likely, will not bring the desired result, but will only have a negative effect on the internal organs and lead to unnecessary spending.

When an elevated ESR is accompanied by a slight temperature, you can try to help the body with herbs and natural products.

In the piggy bank traditional medicine there are many healthy recipes. In one of them, it is recommended to cook the most ordinary beets. Properly prepared, it can lower the ESR in ten days.

It is necessary to choose three small beets, wash them thoroughly and do not remove the tails. Then the vegetables are boiled for about three hours. The resulting broth is filtered and stored in a cold place. It is enough to drink 50 grams of beet liquid per day. The decoction is taken in the morning on an empty stomach.

Juice squeezed from beets is also a good blood cleanser. It is necessary to drink it before going to bed for half a glass. Ten days of this intake will help improve blood circulation.

Effective is the remedy, which contains lemon juice and garlic. One hundred grams of the latter must be crushed. Then mix the resulting slurry with the juice of six to seven lemons. Put the drink in the refrigerator and take a teaspoon in the evening, diluted with a glass of boiled water.

Freshly squeezed citrus juices are also useful. It is advisable to add a teaspoon of honey to them.

It happens that the examination did not reveal serious pathologies, and the ESR does not decrease. In this case, you need to periodically conduct preventive examinations. When negative symptoms appear, you should not let everything take its course, but seek advice. Preventive measures always give positive results and help to maintain health for many years.

A general blood test must be taken not only in case of malaise, but also as a diagnosis of the state of the body. Such an analysis is recommended to be taken once a year, and in old age - once every six months. An increase or decrease in the number of bodies in the blood (erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, etc.) is an indicator of certain diseases or inflammatory processes. Especially often, diseases are determined if the level of the measured components is increased. In the decoding of blood tests, the ESR indicator is indicated. Let's see what it is and why this value can increase.

ESR above normal in a blood test: what does it mean

One of the main indicators is not just the content of erythrocytes, but their sedimentation rate - ESR. This analysis allows you to determine the state of health in the body - increased, in combination with other indicators based on a general analysis, can help diagnose a number of diseases.

To determine the increased ESR in the blood or its reduced content in the laboratory after blood sampling, which is taken on an empty stomach, the material is placed in a test tube and allowed to stand for an hour. In order to clearly determine the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anticoagulant serum is added to the blood. The edge at which the plasma will be above the blood cells on a scale in the flask will become a measuring figure that determines the increase or decrease relative to the norm.

The increase, as well as the decrease in the rate of red cell sedimentation for people of different ages and gender, depends on many factors. In the course of life, the human body is exposed to various infectious and viral diseases, which is why an increase in the number of leukocytes, antibodies, and erythrocytes is noticed.

Normal indicators for adults and children

The norm for men is 1–10 mm/h, for women, on average, 3–15 mm/h. In children, depending on age - 0-2 mm / h (in newborns), 12-17 mm / h (up to 6 months).

Why ESR is elevated: reasons

If the analysis showed a deviation from the norm, you should not panic and immediately thoughtlessly seek treatment. First, it is necessary to track the increase, as well as the decrease in ESR, in dynamics. This applies to cases where there are no obvious signs of the disease. For example, in women of different ages, the ESR level differs from 3 mm / h (at a young age) to 53 mm / h (at an advanced age), which is why doctors take into account the age category of the patient, determining whether it is increased by an acceptable rate.

In addition, after a heavy meal, in the case of pregnancy, its increase in the blood is noticed. To artificially reduce the rate, liquefying drugs are taken. medications, but only after consultation with a doctor who will prescribe proper treatment. High ESR does not threaten vegetarians if they do not have any diseases, usually their rate is not increased, but, on the contrary, below the average norm.

The main reason for the increase in ESR is considered infectious diseases. As a rule, in diseases of the upper respiratory tract, pneumonia, tuberculosis, disruption of the genitourinary system and viral hepatitis, having made an analysis, the doctor will see a fairly high ESR. Why is there an increase? This indicator is determined by an increase in the number of antibodies that the immune system actively begins to produce, respectively, immunoglobulin accelerates the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, so their level is increased. It is possible to reduce ESR only if treatment is carried out and the causes of the disease are eliminated.

If an oncological disease has affected the body, the rate will be very high. Malignant formations in the lungs, kidneys, organs of the reproductive system, bronchi, nasopharynx, uterus, etc. are determined by the dynamics of its increase to 30-40 units. Oncohematological diseases show not so elevated ESR (leukemia, lymphoma, plasmacytoma). With the right complex of diagnostics, the specialist prescribes emergency treatment.

How to lower in a woman, man or child

Based only on the indicator of increased ESR in the blood, or vice versa, you should not prescribe treatment - this is not advisable. First of all, an analysis is made to identify pathologies in the body, their causes are established. A comprehensive diagnosis is carried out, and only after all the indicators have been combined, the doctor determines the disease and its stage.

AT childhood parents should not panic if the result shows an increase in ESR in the blood. The reasons for this are as follows. In a child, an increase and an indicator of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be observed in case of teething, unbalanced nutrition, lack of vitamins. If children complain of malaise, in this case, you should consult a doctor and carry out comprehensive examination, the doctor will establish why the ESR analysis is increased, after which the only correct treatment will be prescribed.

Traditional medicine against high "SOI"

Traditional medicine recommends reducing the body sedimentation rate if there are no visible reasons for a threat to health. The recipe is not complicated: red beets are boiled for three hours (tails should not be cut off) and every morning 50 ml of broth is drunk as a preventive measure. It should be taken in the morning before breakfast for a week, usually this will lower the rate, even if it is significantly increased. Only after a seven-day break should a second analysis be done, which will show the level of ESR and whether complex therapy is needed to reduce it and cure the disease.

General and clinical characteristics of blood - the most common and familiar to everyone analysis. In combination of easy performance and professional informativeness, it is indispensable for any diagnostic search.

One of the constituent characteristics is ESR, or ROE (an indicator of the presence of inflammatory processes in the body according to the rate or reaction of erythrocyte sedimentation and sediment formation in a test tube).

Elevated ESR in the blood - what does it mean? ESR is an indicator of the rate at which erythrocytes (red blood cells) settle under gravity to the bottom of a special test tube.

At the same time, the second part of the blood (plasma), in which there are suspensions of formed elements, is deprived of all factors of hemostasis (clotting). This is necessary to exclude the effect of hemostasis on the formation of erythrocyte clots.

Thus, the ESR index reflects the relationship of plasma proteins with uniform cellular elements circulating in the blood. The diagnostic indicator of the ESR value in the blood is affected by increased protein and the plasma component of the blood.

AT healthy body erythrocyte membranes, circulating in the blood stream, carry an electrical negative charge, allowing them to repel each other and not stick together.

If, for certain reasons, the charge potential is disturbed, erythrocytes stick together (the process of agglutination). Naturally, their weighting causes rapid subsidence. This process is facilitated by changes in the protein components in the plasma and inflammatory pathologies in the body.

• The ESR indicators registered at the same time will be above the norm.

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The norm of ESR in the blood in women, men and children

Indicators of the norm of ESR in the blood depend on the gender of the patient and his age. There are certain boundaries, the violation of which indicates the presence pathological processes.

The rate of soy in the blood of women and men by age - table

In healthy women ESR norms (average) vary within 12 mm of subsidence per hour with a limit ceiling of up to 18 mm. At the age of 50 and above, the rate rises slightly and is: the lower limit is 14, the upper limit is 25 mm per hour.

ESR norm in men due to the rate of agglutination (gluing) and erythrocyte sedimentation. In a healthy body, their level ranges from 8 to 10 mm per hour. But in old age (over 60), the average value of the parameter increases to 20 mm per hour, and indicators exceeding 30 mm per hour, for this age category, are considered a deviation.

Although for women this figure, although considered too high, is quite acceptable and pathological sign does not count.

ESR norm indicators in children differ significantly by age. If the rate of sediment at birth is up to 2 mm per hour, then by two months it doubles and can reach up to 5 mm per hour.

By six months, this figure is 6 mm, and by two years - 7 mm per hour. The rate of precipitation from 2 to 8 years old is considered to be up to 8 mm per hour, although a 10 mm rate in three-year-old children is considered the limit of the norm.

In puberty, ESR rises and in girls it can be 15 mm, and in boys from 10 to 12 mm per hour. After adulthood, indicators of the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation rate are compared with the norms of adults.

For any person, the indicators of the ESR norm can vary upwards due to individual characteristics and are not considered a pathology, just as the syndrome of increased sediment acceleration can be a hereditary factor.

Concomitant symptoms with an increase in ESR up to 40 mm per hour should be alarming in an increase in ESR in the blood in adults. This is an indicator for additional diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

By itself, the level of ESR in the analyzes cannot be a sign of any pathology, it is only a reflection of inflammatory processes, and the reason for its manifestation can be triggered by many physiological and pathological factors.

Among the physiological causes of elevated ESR, the following dominate:

• Not proper nutrition with a predominance of a fatty and spicy diet and a lack of vitamin in it;
• Stressful situations and allergic processes;
• Overstrain and emotional stress;
• The presence of inflammatory processes in boils, scratches, boils, or splinters;
• Taking certain medications.

In women, elevated ESR in the blood is noted during the period menstrual cycles or after taking oral contraceptives. Such a syndrome is characteristic, with different fluctuations in the level of sedimentation rate at certain hours - in the morning, in the evening or at night.

During pregnancy, against the background of hormonal changes, the ESR rate changes significantly. At the beginning of pregnancy, its indicators are usually reduced. But sometimes, the woman's immune system perceives the fetus as a foreign object and starts the process of phagocytic protection, while changing the protein component of the blood. This entails an increase in the level of ESR in the blood during pregnancy.

The norm for pregnant women is 45 mm per hour, but over the entire period of bearing a child, it can increase three times and long time persist after childbirth.

The increase in the level of erythrocyte sediment during pregnancy and after childbirth is affected by the level of hemoglobin concentration. Its loss during childbirth may be reflected in an increased sediment rate.

Elevated ESR is a kind of landmark in the treatment of many inflammatory diseases. But such an indicator may not be observed immediately, after the formation of pathology, but it can remain at a certain elevated level for a long time. This is due to the failure of erythrocytes with a destroyed structure to a quick recovery.

The genesis of the acceleration of erythrocytes to sedimentation is based on any processes, including inflammatory ones, as a result of which cellular immunity reactions occur with the release of tissue mediators with the formation of inflammatory processes.

The most common reasons are due to:

1. Viral, bacterial and intestinal infections in the acute, latent, or recovery phase of the course.
2. Diseases of any organs and systems with any localization of inflammatory processes.
3. Purulent infections - boils, abscesses, phlegmon, lymphadenitis, purulent cavities in the internal organs.
4. Systemic autoimmune and reactive-allergic pathologies - rheumatism, arthritis of any genesis, allergic skin pathologies.
5. Malignant neoplasms, even at the stage of preclinical development.
6. Any manifestation of a feverish state.
7. Blood diseases - anemia, leukemia, leukopenia.
8. Traumatic and shock conditions - large burn injuries.
9. Post-infarction condition, poisoning and intoxication.

Sometimes, blood tests show platelets in the blood and elevated ESR. This combination may result from:

• large blood loss during surgical interventions;
• ulcerative colitis, acute rheumatism or tuberculosis;
• hemolytic anemia;
• treatment with corticosteroid drugs;
• the presence of other rare pathologies.

In a child, an increased rate of erythrocyte sedimentation is due to the same reasons as in adults. The main reasons can be replenished by a factor breastfeeding when mommy violates the nutritional regimen. The presence of helminthiasis. The period of eruption of the first teeth or the fear of taking blood for analysis.

Despite the many reasons that cause the acceleration of red blood cell sedimentation, in order to clarify the diagnosis, the doctor's attention is focused on the patient's history. If this is absent, the possibility of developing oncological pathologies and sluggish infections is excluded.

Increased ESR - is treatment necessary?

The manifestation of the syndrome itself in a blood test is not a reliable sign of diseases or pathological manifestations in the body. But extensive diagnostics is based on its indicators for the detection and early treatment of diseases that pose a threat to life.

So, without identifying the underlying cause, treatment is inappropriate.

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• Basophils are the causes of an increase in the blood in adults, about ...

It happens that during the delivery of the analysis it is found increased rate ESR in the blood. Many panic, not even knowing what it is. Let's see what it means to increase the ESR, what it says and how it can affect health.

The abbreviation ESR in medicine stands for the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. This indicator characterizes the presence of an inflammatory process in the body.

Erythrocytes are blood bodies and are an integral part of it. These are the most basic blood cells. Their quality, quantity and sedimentation rate directly depends on the general state of health, the presence or absence of some diseases, age, gender, and chronic diseases also play a role in the rate of blood cell sedimentation.

ESR is of great importance in, because it diagnoses pathologies in the body. To determine this indicator, you need to take a blood test. Blood is made up of two important components. The first is plasma, and the second is blood bodies - erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets.

In a healthy body, all these indicators should be normal.

If at least one parameter deviates, it is worth going through a complete diagnosis, since all organs and systems are interconnected, and if at least one indicator is violated, changes in others will begin over time, which can lead to various diseases.

An analysis to determine the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is prescribed in the following cases:

1. scheduled medical examination
2. health monitoring at the hospital during therapy
3. with suspicion of infectious diseases
4. in the presence of malignant and benign neoplasms

In principle, a blood test can completely open clinical picture state of the body, therefore, when referring to specialists, analysis is a necessary measure, starting from which the doctor sees whether there are diseases and what they are like. Thanks to this, it is possible to establish a diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatment.

Methods for diagnosing ESR (preparation and procedure)

As mentioned above, ESR is diagnosed by a blood test. To pass the examination, there are several recommendations, the observance of which will help to establish all the parameters as accurately as possible. Firstly, blood is donated early in the morning, with the exception of critical situations and inpatient therapy.

Preparation for analysis:

• On the eve of the test, it is better to refuse heavy, fatty, salty or too sweet food.
• Also, before taking blood for 1-2 hours, it is better not to smoke, as tobacco smoke can distort blood counts.
• It is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol 1-2 days before blood donation.
• Before the diagnosis, it is recommended not to eat or drink tea / coffee.
• Also, if the patient during this period takes medicines, or traditional medicine, you must inform your doctor about this, as some substances can artificially affect the number of platelets, white blood cells or red blood cells.
• In addition, physical and emotional stress on the eve of blood sampling is undesirable.

In laboratory conditions, blood is placed in a test tube and left for a while. At first it is of a uniform consistency and color, but soon the blood is divided into two parts: red blood cells settle to the bottom and it becomes thick and dark, and a clear and light liquid remains on top - this is plasma, which no longer contains red blood cells. Blood cells settle over a certain period of time, this is the ESR indicator. Since the cells settle in the flask, the value is measured in millimeters per hour. This is how the “figure mm / hour” is indicated.

More information about ESR can be found in the video:

Erythrocytes tend to connect with each other. Due to this, they become heavier and settle. But if there is an inflammatory process in the body or any pathology, then a special substance is released in the blood that accelerates the connection of red blood cells. Accordingly, if they settle too quickly, this indicates some health problems.

If, upon receipt of the result of a blood test, a deviation from the norm is found in the sedimentation of erythrocytes, then additional diagnostics are prescribed to determine the cause. And only then the doctor will be able to establish a diagnosis and advise a method of treatment.

Diagnosis of erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be carried out in several ways:

1. the Westergren method, in which blood from a vein is mixed with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and diluted with saline. In an hour, the result of the analysis will be ready. This method is considered the most common for checking ESR.
2. Panchenkov's method - an anticoagulant is collected in a special laboratory capillary for 100 divisions, then biological material taken from a finger is added there. The flask is installed in a vertical position. An hour later, the result will be ready.

Norm by age and during pregnancy

The rate of erythrocyte sedimentation is a purely individual indicator and depends on many factors. On average, the normative indicator is considered to be from 2 to 15 mm / h.

But it should be borne in mind that for women, men, children different ages and for pregnant women, the normative indicators are different:

• newborn babies - 0-2 mm / h
• children aged 1 month – 2-5 mm/h
• children up to six months - 2-6mm / h
• children from 6 months to a year - 3-10mm / h
• from a year to 6 years - 5-11mm / h
• from 6 to 14 years old, girls - 2-15mm / h
• from 6 to 14 years old, boys - 1-10mm/h
• women, up to 35 years old - 8-15mm / h
• women, after 35 years - up to 20 mm / h. considered normal
• men, up to 60 years old - 2-10mm / h
• men after 60 years - up to 15-16 mm / h

In addition, indicators can increase or decrease with malnutrition, alcohol consumption, and a sedentary lifestyle, which can lead to problems with the cardiovascular system.

In women, regardless of age, during pregnancy, the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation can be four to five times higher than the usual norm. This is not a pathology, since many changes occur during pregnancy, and ESR is one of them. For a pregnant woman, up to 40-45 mm / h, this is a standard indicator.

Reasons for increasing ESR

As already mentioned above, an increased level of ESR signals the development of an inflammatory process in the body. But if we consider it more globally, then there can be a lot of reasons for increasing the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the most common among them are:

1. diabetes
2. anemia
3. tuberculosis
4. cancer

In infants, the causes of increased ESR may be the following:

• teething, which usually causes an elevated body temperature
• violation of the mother's diet, during breastfeeding
• worms
• lack of vitamins
• while taking paracetamol

According to statistics, in 40% of cases, the cause of an increase in the number of red blood cells is respiratory viral infections, tuberculosis, infection of the genitourinary system. Also, the increase in ESR can be affected by some medications, the reception of which must be notified to the doctor.

What to do? How to normalize ESR in the blood

If it turns out that the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is increased, the doctor usually prescribes additional diagnostics to find out the exact reasons that violated this indicator. Additional tests and examination will be able to clarify the clinical picture completely.

After that, the doctor prescribes a course of treatment for the detected disease. After treatment, it is recommended to take a blood test again to make sure that the therapy has benefited.

In addition to the medicines prescribed by the specialist, you can additionally help yourself at home using traditional medicine. It can be decoctions and syrups, but based on immunostimulating components. These include lemon, calendula, rose hips, string, linden, honey and all products of bee origin. In order not to harm, before self-treatment important to ensure that there is no allergic reaction to these components.

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Health 29.03.2018

Determination of ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is an affordable and simple method of laboratory diagnostics, which allows you to identify primarily infectious and inflammatory processes in the body. This important indicator reflected in the results of a general blood test. The study is prescribed for adults and children with both preventive purpose, and to obtain a complete picture of the condition of a sick person.

Let's discuss this important topic with you. What is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, why is it necessary to determine the ESR, what does it mean when the ESR is above normal? People are often embarrassed to ask these and many other questions to doctors, and at home they think for a long time why they have such numbers in the results of a general blood test. We will understand all these intricacies of laboratory diagnostics together with the doctor the highest category Evgenia Nabrodova.

What is SOE

The phenomenon of erythrocyte sedimentation has been known since ancient times. Back in the time of Hippocrates, when they used the method of bloodletting, healers noticed that the released blood eventually began to delaminate into 2 parts: dark - below and light - above, and it was light that was more pronounced in sick people. This feature was not used in any way for a long time, until the Polish therapist (E. Bernatsky) suggested using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate to diagnose many diseases.

Normally, erythrocytes have a negative charge and bloodstream repel each other so as not to stick together. Outside the vessels, red blood cells begin to settle under gravity. are at the bottom, and on top are leukocytes and blood plasma.

Under certain physiological conditions (for example, during pregnancy) and pathological processes, erythrocyte sedimentation occurs with high speed. The main reason for its increase is changes in the properties of plasma with a predominance of protein composition against the background of fever, allergic and inflammatory reactions, the growth of malignant cells and the penetration of foreign microorganisms.

Various proteins and specific antibodies formed in response to the body's defense reaction reduce the negative charge of red blood cells and weaken their ability to repel each other. As a result, red blood cells begin to actively sink to the bottom of the vertical test tube.

As you may have guessed, the ESR indicator in the blood test is important for determining the infectious and inflammatory processes that occur inside the body. But the method only prompts doctors to think about the presence of inflammation. As soon as the doctor sees that the ESR is above the norm, he prescribes additional studies to determine the exact location of the focus of infection or pathological process.

ESR according to Westergren

There are several methods for determining the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. One of them is the ESR according to Westergren. It is actively used in modern laboratory diagnostics. For analysis, venous blood is taken and mixed with sodium citrate. The laboratory assistant, one hour after the sampling of the material, measures the distance from the upper border of the plasma to the upper border of the settled erythrocytes. This value will describe the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in a particular person.

The method is highly informative. If the ESR according to Westergren is increased, it means that an inflammatory process is more likely to occur in the body. It is necessary to look for a focus of infection, a tumor, or a systemic disease in order to start drug therapy as soon as possible.

ESR according to Panchenkov

ESR according to Panchenkov is the determination of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in capillary blood, which is diluted with sodium citrate in a ratio of 4:1. After that, the material is placed for 60 minutes in a special test tube, which has 100 divisions. But today, the determination of the ESR norm and various deviations occurs in laboratories using automatic counters. This reduces the risk of obtaining false information and significantly reduces the time to obtain accurate analysis results.

ESR norm for men, women and children

The norm of ESR in the blood in women, men and children differs markedly. This indicator is influenced by many factors, and especially by age. If for a person 50-60 years old ESR 25 is the norm, then ESR 25-30 in a child is a catastrophically high indicator that requires an urgent comprehensive examination and determination of the causes of such changes.

Below I suggest that you familiarize yourself with the table, which reflects the norm of ESR in women, children and men by age.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) table

The table helps to determine the rate of ESR in the blood in men, women and a child, but you must understand that these values ​​\u200b\u200bare approximate. A deviation of several units does not indicate development dangerous disease. If the ESR is not normal, the doctor will not put final diagnosis without data from other studies (ultrasound, X-ray, MRI, blood biochemistry, hormonal diagnostics, blood tumor markers). Therefore, do not rush to conclusions and do not wind yourself up when you see a high ESR in the results of the general analysis.

ESR in women

If you look closely at the table with the ESR norm for women, you will notice that the values ​​\u200b\u200bin it are higher than for men and children. This is due to the low content of erythrocytes in the female blood and the natural increase in globulins and fibrinogen. The average ESR rate for women of the active reproductive period is 10-15.

After 50-60 years, many women develop chronic diseases of the internal organs, including those that affect the uterus, ovaries, liver, kidneys, and joints. Due to pathological changes in the body, the protein composition of the blood changes, which contributes to an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

ESR in men

The norm of ESR in a blood test in men is up to 15-20 (depending on age). After 60 years, the figure approaches 18-20. But, as in women and men, an increase in ESR by several units from the age norm is allowed and does not indicate the development of pathology. However, if the ESR is elevated and there are signs of diseases and complaints about well-being, a more thorough diagnosis is required.

ESR in children

Compared with adults, ESR in children is low. But this figure is rapidly increasing due to any pathological processes. For example, a newborn child rarely has an ESR higher than 2. But 5-7 hours after the development of an infection, fever, or serious tissue damage, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate increases sharply to 12-15.

The average ESR rate in young and middle-aged children is 3-8. A sharp increase in these values ​​may indicate the development of various pathologies, including malignant changes in cells. Be sure to conduct a comprehensive examination in order to make an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment.

ESR during pregnancy

An increase in ESR in pregnant women is considered physiological. The fetus, despite being related to the mother, is a foreign object, and its development leads to an increase in protein elements in the blood. The immune system is in this critical period in a state of tension. Therefore, there is nothing surprising in the increase in the amount of proteins in the blood and the increase in ESR.

The average ESR during pregnancy is 20-40. By the third trimester, the indicator just rises 2-4 times and is 40-50 mm / hour. This should not disturb the woman and the gynecologist, but only if the increase in ESR in the blood is not accompanied by the appearance of signs of infectious and inflammatory diseases, the threat of miscarriage, edema, or symptoms of late toxicosis.

ESR increased. What does it mean?

As soon as a person sees, as a result of a general analysis, that the ESR is above the norm, he begins to ask the doctor what this means and how dangerous it can be. But doctors tend to be laconic, especially with impressionable patients. The doctor is afraid that, having listed the main reasons for the increase in ESR, the patient will begin to invent non-existent diseases and feel even worse or change the prescribed treatment without reason.

But I believe that medical literacy has not prevented anyone yet. However, do not take the list of diseases in which ESR is elevated so seriously. These are just the possible reasons:

• bacterial and viral infections;
• suppurative processes;
• allergic diseases in the acute stage;
• systemic diseases (lupus erythematosus, gout);
• acute inflammation of internal organs or exacerbation of a chronic inflammatory process;
• immunodeficiency diseases;
• malignant neoplasms of internal organs, blood cancer;
• exacerbation of pathologies of the liver and kidneys;
• viral hepatitis;
• pathological processes accompanied by tissue necrosis, including myocardial infarction;
• endocrine diseases.

The ESR is strongly influenced by physiological factors. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate increases not only during pregnancy, but also during breastfeeding, after physical activity and the impact of stress. In women, ESR is higher than normal during menstruation.

Many medications can cause red blood cells to stick together and increase their sedimentation rate. Contraceptives, anticonvulsants, narcotic drugs, aspirin can increase ESR. If you are taking any of these medications, tell your doctor before taking a complete blood count. The specialist may recommend temporarily canceling some funds or simply take them into account when receiving diagnostic results.

ESR in oncology

Many people monitor ESR, believing that an increase in the indicator indicates the development of cancer. The fear of cancer is growing every year, and this is a sad trend. Indeed, ESR in oncology increases, especially in children. But there are many other reasons for this increase. Therefore, you should not consider the amount of ESR as the main sign of cancer. For early diagnosis oncological diseases, there are other much more informative methods (for example, blood for tumor markers, ultrasound, cytological examination).

How to lower the ESR in the blood? With an increase in the indicator, you must consult your doctor. It often happens that the ESR is increased, but there are no obvious signs of the disease. In this case, it is recommended to take the analysis again, observing certain restrictions.

A high ESR against the background of general health can be if, shortly before the test, a person was subjected to severe physical or stressful stress. A few days before the study, it is recommended to avoid psycho-emotional stress, overwork, give up alcohol and smoking.

A general blood test is taken on an empty stomach. Some people forget about it for some reason. And breakfast before the study can cause an increased ESR in the blood. Even late dinner on the eve of a complete blood test is not recommended.

Treatment of high ESR

An elevated ESR in the blood requires appropriate treatment if, in addition to this symptom, specialists detect additional pathological symptoms. Medical tactics directly related to the diagnosis. Since an increase in ESR is often associated with bacterial infections, their presence must be confirmed by other studies and appropriate antibiotics should be selected. Additionally, anti-inflammatory drugs, local antiseptics can be prescribed (if the focus of infection is in the mouth or nose).

Treatment of high ESR is carried out under the supervision of a physician. You can not prescribe yourself medications, especially antibiotics. This may not be useful, as many pathogens today are resistant to antibacterial agents.

Only a doctor determines the sensitivity and accurately prescribes the appropriate drug.

I remind you that a slight increase in ESR without complaints and signs of illness does not require treatment. Doctors call such patients among themselves “soynye”. They have a slightly elevated ESR for no reason, but they feel well and do not need medical attention.

The decrease in ESR has no clinical significance for specialists. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate can change with dehydration of the body and changes in the shape of the cells (with sickle cell anemia). ESR also decreases with heart and respiratory failure, long-term use of corticosteroids and albumins.

It is better to evaluate ESR after all with your doctor. Feel free to ask doctors to tell you about the test results. Knowing about normal, you can suspect violations and illnesses in time and turn to specialists.

your doctor
Evgenia Nabrodova

And for the soul, we will listen today Liberace Carmen's Boogie Wladzi Valentino Liberace is an American pianist, an extraordinary personality. Brightness in clothes, jewels with which he was hung - all this will then be adopted by many musicians. Including Elvis Presley. I think that you will not remain indifferent after listening to a fragment of his improvisations on the themes of "Carmen".

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