High ESR Symptoms and Effective Treatment Strategies

What are High ESR Symptoms? Causes and Treatment

Doctors often throw around terms such as high ESR, ESR test or ESR symptoms. However, people have been confused about what ESR means. ESR or Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate is a non-specific test that determines whether you have any underlying conditions. In this blog, we will explore what ESR is, what high ESR signifies and high ESR symptoms.

What is ESR, and what does it measure?

The Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate is a blood test that plays a key role in spotting inflammation in the body. This test measures how fast red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, settle at the bottom of a vertical test tube over the course of an hour.

A high ESR result often indicates a possible inflammatory condition due to infections, autoimmune diseases, or chronic conditions. However, ESR does not pinpoint the exact cause behind the problem, as it is a non-specific test. Doctors generally use ESR blood tests with high results, along with other diagnostic tests, to determine underlying conditions.

Normal ESR Range

The normal range for ESR levels depends on age, gender and specific individual conditions. Women tend to have higher ESR values in general, and levels also increase with age. The table below provides an overview of the normal and high ESR values.

Group	Normal ESR Range (in mm/hr)	High ESR Value (mm/hr)
Men below 50	0-15 mm/hr	Above 15 mm/hr
Men above 50	0-20 mm/hr	Above 20 mm/hr
Women below 50	0-20 mm/hr	Above 20 mm/hr
Women below 50	0-30 mm/hr	Above 30 mm/hr
Children	0-10 mm/hr	Above 10 mm/hr
Newborns	0-2 mm/hr	Above 2 mm/hr
Pregnant women	Up to 40 mm/hr	Above 40 mm/hr

However, it is important to note here that a mild increase in ESR levels does not always indicate a serious condition, but persistent high ESR symptoms should not be ignored.

High ESR Symptoms to Look Out For

Many people wonder, what happens if ESR is high? When ESR levels are high, it typically indicates an inflammatory process in the body. However, it alone does not diagnose a disease. Further diagnosis and tests may be required to determine the root cause. Depending on the condition, symptoms of high ESR may vary.

1.Weakness and Persistent Fatigue: One of the most common high ESR symptoms is feeling fatigued and weak. Chronic inflammation can drain the body's energy reserves, leading to weakness. Many people have reported that they feel constantly tired, even after a full night’s rest.

2.Fever: If an underlying infection or autoimmune disorder is causing an increase in ESR levels, the body may then react with fever. These symptoms are also particularly common in chronic diseases like tuberculosis, or lymphoma.

3.Unexplained Weight Loss: Cancer or other chronic illnesses may also cause ESR levels to rise, and this may also cause unintentional weight loss. If you notice a significant loss in weight, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

4.Joint and Muscle Pain: Many autoimmune diseases, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and lupus, can cause ESR levels to rise, along with severe joint and muscle pain. Joint Inflammation leads to severe pain, making daily activities challenging.

5.Headaches: Some conditions that increase ESR levels, such as vasculitis, may affect blood flow. This causes headaches and dizziness.

6.Tissue Damage: This can occur due to trauma and injury, resulting in the accumulation of acute phase proteins. They can cause high ESR levels.

Other high ESR symptoms include:

● Obesity
● Heart Disease
● Cancer, such as leukaemia, myeloma, lymphoma, etc.
● Kidney disease
● Diabetes
● High blood pressure
● Thyroid

What are the Reasons Behind High ESR?

There are several factors at play which determine the value of ESR. High ESR causes, however, vary to an extent. The reasons are:

1.Infections

When the body fights off viral, bacterial or fungal infection, it leads to inflammation. This increases the ESR levels, leading to high ESR symptoms like fever, body aches and fatigue.

2.Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune disorders cause the immune system to attack healthy tissues, leading to chronic inflammation and high ESR levels. Some of the conditions to the same are as follows:

● Rheumatoid Arthritis
● Lupus
● Vasculitis

3.Chronic Diseases

Long-term conditions can contribute to high ESR levels. As chronic inflammation is a key factor in many long-term illnesses, it makes ESR a viable diagnostic tool. Some of the long-term conditions that lead to high ESR levels are as follows:

Kidney Disease: Impaired kidney functions contribute to the surge in ESR levels.
Heart Disease: Inflammation in arteries and heart tissues due to an underlying heart disease may lead to an ESR blood test with high results.
Diabetes: High sugar levels cause inflammation, and this may lead to a rise in the same.

4.Pregnancy

Many women, during their pregnancy, experience an increase in ESR levels. This is accompanied by high ESR symptoms like mild swelling, joint discomfort and fatigue. During pregnancy, it is generally not considered a cause for alarm unless it is accompanied by other health concerns.

5.Anemia

Anaemia alters the viscosity of blood. This causes red blood cells to settle faster, leading to high ESR levels.

6.Unhealthy Lifestyle

Poor lifestyle and dietary choices contribute to chronic inflammation, increasing ESR levels over time.

Why is ESR High in Females and Pregnant Women?

Why ESR is high in females is a common question among women. They naturally have higher ESR levels than men due to hormonal fluctuations, menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and even menopause. Some high ESR symptoms in females are,

Changes in menstrual cycle
Increased fatigue and weakness
Swelling and inflammation in different parts of the body

If these symptoms persist, it is best to consult a doctor for further evaluation.

Pregnant women's bodies go through numerous changes that can elevate ESR. Some of those changes are:

Increased blood plasma volume
Changes in red blood cell production
Hormonal fluctuations

Generally, high ESR in pregnancy is not a cause for concern. However, if it is excessively high or is accompanied by other health issues, doctors may prescribe additional tests to rule out any infections or complications.

Preventive Measures to Avoid High ESR Levels

Fortunately, ESR levels can be naturally lowered and maintained. It is important to take the following precautions when it comes to lowering ESR levels.

1.Maintain a Healthy Diet

Knowing which foods to avoid is crucial. If you’re wondering about high ESR food to avoid, here are some common culprits:

Processed Foods and Fast Food.
Sugary drinks and desserts.
Red meat and fried foods.
Excessive dairy consumption.
Alcohol or caffeine in large quantities.

Instead, you can incorporate a diet consisting of fruits, leafy vegetables, whole grains and lean protein to support overall health. Since, ESR high means the body is responding to inflammation, maintaining a healthy diet can promote healing.

2.Regular Exercise

Exercising regularly can help regulate inflammation and boost overall health. The following activities are essential if you are looking to keep your ESR levels low.

Walking or jogging (at least 30 minutes daily)
Yoga and stretching.
Strength training.
Swimming or cycling.

3.Staying Hydrated

Drinking water and staying hydrated helps remove toxins from the body. Drinking 8 - 10 glasses of water a day is recommended to help reduce ESR levels naturally.

4.Manage your Stress Levels

Chronic stress triggers inflammation, leading to an increase in ESR levels. You may use these techniques to effectively manage your stress:

Meditation and deep breathing exercises.
Mindfulness and relaxation techniques.
Getting 8-9 hours of sleep daily.
Engaging in hobbies and physical activity.

4.Maintain a Healthy Weight

Obesity has been linked to chronic inflammation, leading to high ESR levels. Therefore, you must manage weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise. This can help lower high ESR symptoms over time.

High ESR Treatment: What Can You Do?

The high ESR treatment depends upon the underlying causes of high ESR. Since a high ESR means that the body is responding to inflammation, the most effective way to lower it is to address the root cause. The primary treatment methods are as follows:

1.Medications

When an underlying infection is causing an increase in ESR levels, doctors may prescribe the following medications to treat the underlying issue first.

Antibiotics, of antivirals
Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS and Steroids)
Immunosuppressants and biological therapies
Iron supplements are used in cases where a high ESR is caused by anemia.
Chemotherapy or other forms of targeted therapy where the underlying cause behind high ESR levels is cancer

2.Lifestyle Changes

Making certain lifestyle and dietary changes can go a long way in reducing ESR levels. You could follow these steps to reduce ESR levels.

Adopt an anti-inflammatory diet consisting of leafy greens, nuts, fibres and whole grains.
Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes.
Manage stress levels through meditation and other relaxing techniques. Also, make sure that you’re getting a minimum of 8 hours of sleep.
Stay hydrated.

3.Medical Intervention in Cases of Persistent High ESR

Sometimes, if the high ESR levels persist despite lifestyle changes, doctors advise other tests to rule out complications. In case of an underlying condition being found that triggers an increase in ESR levels, doctors would prescribe medications or alternate treatment, as the case may be. Treating the underlying cause is the most effective way of reducing ESR levels.

Conclusion

Identifying high ESR symptoms and addressing them helps you maintain a healthy and happy life. ESR acts like a flare, indicating something is not right with your body. However, it is not a cause for panic as it does not reveal anything specific. Moreover, hormonal changes trigger high ESR and it generally fades.

Consult your doctor and discuss your medical history along with the potential causes for high ESR. Together you can settle on a viable solution and boost your health.