What does it mean if your ESR is high?
Ava Richardson
Updated on May 18, 2026
What does it mean if your ESR is high?
It can be a reaction to an infection or injury. Inflammation may also be a sign of a chronic disease, an immune disorder, or other medical condition.
What is a ESR Westergren blood test?
Description. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) westergren is an easy, inexpensive, nonspecific test that has been used for many years to help diagnose conditions associated with acute and chronic inflammation, including infections, cancers, and autoimmune diseases.
What infections cause high ESR?
An increased ESR rate may be due to some infections, including:
- Bodywide (systemic) infection.
- Bone infections.
- Infection of the heart or heart valves.
- Rheumatic fever.
- Severe skin infections, such as erysipelas.
- Tuberculosis.
What is normal level of ESR in blood?
Results from your sed rate test will be reported in the distance in millimeters (mm) that red blood cells have descended in one hour (hr). The normal range is 0 to 22 mm/hr for men and 0 to 29 mm/hr for women. The upper threshold for a normal sed rate value may vary somewhat from one medical practice to another.
How can I lower my ESR level?
Factors that may help lower inflammation and ESR include engaging in regular exercise, living a healthy and hygienic lifestyle, losing weight if overweight, and eating nutritious foods. A low sedimentation rate is often normal. In some cases, it may point to blood cell disorders.
Can stress cause high ESR?
Although the mechanism for the increases in ESR in response to stressor exposure remains unclear, it is concluded that when using the ESR in clinical practice, allowance should be made for situational factors such as the patient having experienced some stressful days and sleepless nights.
Can viral infection cause high ESR?
The ESR is elevated in most bacterial and mycobacterial infections and is normal or mildly elevated in uncomplicated viral, rickettsial, and ehrlichial infections.
Is ESR high in Covid?
CASE SUMMARY. We here report that the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) increased in a confirmed COVID patient. The high level of ESR sustained for a long time even after the patient recovered from COVID-19, while all results related to tumor, tuberculosis, rheumatic diseases, anemia, etc.
