5 diseases that can increase your ESR count

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is the rate at which your red blood cells end up settling at the bottom of any blood sample. An ESR test is used to detect the presence or absence of inflammation in your body. Different types of diseases can cause the ESR count in your body to elevate.

ESR, commonly known as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, is a test that helps detect the presence or absence of inflammation in the body. This is a nonspecific test that is prescribed by doctors for inflammation detection. This article provides more information about ESR count, why the test is done, and what causes ESR count to rise. However, it cannot determine which specific disease you may be suffering from and has to be grouped with other tests. This article provides more information about ESR count, why the test is done, and what causes ESR count to rise.

How ESR Count is Detected 

ESR rate is detected through a blood test called the ESR test. It is actively grouped together with other clinical tests to determine the prevalence or absence of inflammation in the body. The ESR test price depends upon factors like where you hail from, what diagnostic centre you get the test done from, and what all parameters it is paired with. In certain places, especially on online websites, you can avail different kinds of discounts and cashback offers on the MRP price of the test, significantly lowering its cost. Since the ESR test is a nonspecific test, it is almost always paired together with other kinds of tests to get a better diagnosis of your illness.

Diseases That Affect ESR Rate

ESR test is commonly done to diagnose new diseases as well as monitor your body’s condition and response to treatments if you’ve already been diagnosed with certain medical issues, such as:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Temporal arteritis
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Systemic vasculitis

Other than this, there are a number of diseases and medical issues that can cause the ESR rate in our body to increase. These diseases have been listed below for your reference:

1. Infections

Different types of infections may occur through bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. You can get infected through inhalation, ingestion, or direct contact with an infected individual who is affected by it. Our body naturally releases chemicals and cells to go into action and fight against the foreign bodies that have entered our body. This causes inflammation to occur in our body, which can then show up on the ESR test in the form of an elevated ESR count.

1. Inflammation conditions

Chronic inflammatory illnesses, like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), can cause elevated ESR levels and can easily show up in an ESR test.

1. Cancer

Different types of cancers can also cause inflammation to rise in the body. This means that the body releases certain types of chemicals in the body to try to fight off the abnormal cells, in turn increasing the ESR count in the body. Lymphomas and multiple myeloma are some of the types of cancers that can cause a person to have high levels of ESR in their test.

1. Autoimmune illnesses

Different types of autoimmune conditions that attack the healthy immune system itself are known to cause elevated ESR levels. Thyroiditis or systemic sclerosis are some common examples of autoimmune diseases that can cause the ESR count to elevate when you get an ESR test done. This is usually due to the fact that such conditions can cause people to suffer from chronic inflammation. 

1. Tissue damage

Any type of physical trauma can cause inflammation in the body as a natural response to the issue. This naturally results in your ESR count getting elevated. 

Symptoms of Elevated ESR Count

There are a number of symptoms you should watch out for in case your ESR count may be high, as that would indicate that your body is fighting against an illness that is causing inflammation. These symptoms have been listed below for your reference:

1. Fever
2. Pain or discomfort in the affected site
3. Redness or swelling
4. Warmth around the diseased area
5. Pus 
6. Having problems moving the injured bodily portion
7. Head and body pains
8. Chills and sweating
9. Fatigue

Treatment Plans for High ESR

Once the doctor determines what the underlying cause of the high ESR rate is, there can be a treatment plan made to treat the elevated rates, as well as the underlying cause directly. These treatment options have been listed below for your reference:

• Antibiotic medications
• Pain relieving medications
• Hydration
• Resting as much as possible
• Maintaining follow-up care

Conclusion

An ESR test is a nonspecific blood test that provides insight into different types of diagnosis and can help the doctor come up with a treatment plan. It is also a great test to track your body’s response towards treatment for certain conditions. Some diseases, like infections, autoimmune disorders, injuries, etc., can cause inflammation in the body. This in turn elevates your ESR rate, which can then show up on the test.