ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is a test that indicates the presence of inflammation in the body. It measures the speed at which red blood cells descend to the bottom of an extremely thin tube. If your ESR is moderately high, there is probably a painful inflammation going on in your body that you should treat. diet and exercise are two great ways to do this. You should also ask your doctor if there are other underlying causes of your high ESR and, if necessary, you should have regular checkups.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Reduce Inflammation and ESR with Diet and Exercise
Step 1. If you are able, engage in vigorous physical activity regularly
To perform a high intensity workout you have to work hard. Whatever activity you choose, you should sweat, raise your heart rate and think "Damn what an effort!". Work out for at least 30 minutes, three times a week. This type of exercise has been shown to significantly reduce inflammation.
Examples of strenuous activities include running, brisk biking, swimming, aerobic dancing, or hiking uphill
Step 2. Do light or moderate intensity exercises as an alternative
If you have never exercised before or have health problems that prevent you from doing intense workouts, try lighter sessions of at least 30 minutes. All you need to do is move around every day to reduce inflammation. Push to the point where you think "This is a tough exercise but I'm not at my limit yet."
Take a brisk stroll around the block or sign up for a water aerobics class
Step 3. Do 30 minutes of yoga nidra a day
This type of yoga involves remaining suspended between sleep and wakefulness. Helps to achieve total mental and physical relaxation. In at least one study, performing this activity significantly reduced elevated ESR levels. To try it:
- Lie on your back on a mat or other comfortable surface.
- Listen to the voice of your yoga instructor (download an app or find a video or audio recording if there are no gyms offering this activity in your area).
- Breathe naturally.
- Do not move your body during the exercise.
- Let your mind wander from one point to another, remaining conscious without concentrating.
- Achieve the state of "sleep with a trace of consciousness".
Step 4. Avoid processed and sugary foods
These foods contain a type of harmful cholesterol (LDL) that causes inflammation in the body. In turn, the inflammations cause the ESR to rise. In particular, avoid chips and fried foods, white bread, pastries, sodas, red or processed meats, margarine, and lard.
Step 5. Eat healthy fruits, vegetables, nuts and oils
These foods form the basis of a healthy diet, along with lean meats such as chicken and fish. There are also fruits, vegetables and oils with specific anti-inflammatory properties that you should incorporate into your meals several times a week. These include:
- Tomatoes.
- Strawberries, blueberries, cherries and oranges.
- Leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and kale.
- Almonds and walnuts.
- Fatty fish (with high oil content), such as salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines.
- Olive oil.
Step 6. Add spices such as oregano, cayenne pepper, and basil to your dishes
These ingredients naturally fight inflammation in the body, so incorporate them into your meals whenever you can. Fortunately, using herbs is a great way to add flavor to your dishes! You can also use ginger, turmeric, and white willow bark to reduce inflammation and ESR.
- Search the internet for recipes that contain the herbs you want to use.
- For the ginger and willow bark, use an infuser to make herbal tea.
- Do not take willow bark if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Step 7. Drink lots of fluids every day
While dehydration doesn't make inflammation worse, being well hydrated is key to preventing muscle and bone damage. Since you are exercising more to reduce inflammation, it is important to drink to avoid injury. Aim for at least 1-2 liters of water per day. Drink some water right away if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Extreme thirst.
- Fatigue, dizziness or confusion.
- Infrequent urination.
- Dark colored urine.
Method 2 of 3: What to do in case of high ESR
Step 1. Talk to your doctor to better understand the test results
As with many laboratory tests, the ranges considered "normal" vary based on the procedure used. Review the results with your doctor when they are available. In general, the normal values are:
- Less than 15 mm / h (millimeters per hour) for men under 50.
- Less than 20mm / hr for men over 50.
- Less than 20 mm / h for women under 50.
- Less than 30 mm / h for women over 50.
- 0-2 mm / h for newborns.
- 3-13 mm / h for children up to puberty.
Step 2. Ask your doctor if your ESR is above average or very high
There are many medical conditions that cause ESR to rise, such as pregnancy, anemia, thyroid or kidney disease, and even cancers such as lymphoma or multiple myeloma. A very high ESR level can indicate lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or another serious infection.
- Very high levels are also a symptom of rare autoimmune diseases, such as allergic vasculitis, giant cell arthritis, hyperfibrinogenemia, macroglobulinemia, necrotizing vasculitis and polymyalgia rheumatica.
- An infection associated with a very high ESR value can be found in the bones, heart, skin or throughout the body. You may also be suffering from tuberculosis or rheumatic fever.
Step 3. Expect to undergo other tests to receive a diagnosis
Since an above average or very high ESR level can be caused by a number of different conditions, your doctor will almost certainly perform other tests to figure out what is wrong with your body. While you wait for the doctor's directions, breathe and don't panic. Discuss your fears with him, with friends and family, so that you get the help you need right now.
Examination of the ESR alone cannot lead to a diagnosis
Step 4. Get regular ESR tests to check your ESR levels
Since above average ESR is often associated with chronic pain or inflammation, your doctor may ask you for regular checkups. Monitoring your ESR during these routine visits allows your doctor to keep an eye on the pain and inflammation that ails you. In theory, with the right treatment plan, the value will go down!
Step 5. Assist in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with medication and physiotherapy
Unfortunately, this pathology cannot be completely cured, however it is possible to manage its symptoms and bring it into remission. Your doctor will usually prescribe a combination of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen), and steroids.
Physiotherapy and occupational therapy can help you learn exercises that keep your joints mobile and flexible. You can also learn alternative ways of doing everyday activities (like pouring yourself a glass of water) for extreme pain
Step 6. Monitor lupus outbreaks with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and other medications
All cases of lupus are unique, so you need to follow your doctor's instructions to the letter to find the best course of action for you. Anti-inflammatories can help manage pain and fever, while corticosteroids reduce inflammation. Your doctor can also recommend antimalarial and immunosuppressant medications, based on your symptoms.
Step 7. Resolve bone and joint infections with antibiotics or surgery
Above-average ESR levels can indicate many different infections, but more accurately identify those found in bones or joints. These are particularly difficult conditions to treat, so your doctor will do other tests to determine the type and cause of the problem. In severe cases, surgery is required to remove infected tissue.
Step 8. Ask for a referral for an oncologist if you are diagnosed with cancer
A very high ESR level (above 100 mm / h) may indicate a malignant tumor, or the presence of cells that invade nearby tissues and cause the cancer to spread. In particular, a high ESR may indicate multiple myeloma or bone marrow cancer. If you are diagnosed with other blood tests, in addition to digital scans and a urine test, an oncologist will work closely with you to develop a specific treatment plan.
Method 3 of 3: Test Your ESR Levels
Step 1. Talk to your doctor if you think you need an ESR test
This is a test often used to check for inflammation in the body that is causing you pain. If you have a fever with no apparent cause, arthritis, muscle aches, or visible inflammation, the ESR test helps your doctor know the cause and severity of the problem.
- An ESR test is also useful for diagnosing symptoms with no apparent explanation such as poor appetite, unexplained weight loss, headaches, or neck and shoulder pain.
- ESR testing is rarely conducted alone. At a minimum, your doctor will also ask for a C-reactive protein test, which provides other indications of the presence of inflammation in the body.
Step 2. Talk to your doctor about the medications you are taking
There are various over-the-counter and non-over-the-counter medications that can increase or decrease ESR values. If you take one of those medicines, your doctor may ask you to stop taking it for a week before you get tested. Do not change medication without consulting your doctor.
- Dextran, methyldopa, oral contraceptives, penicillamine procainamide, theophylline, and vitamin A can increase ESR.
- Aspirin, cortisone, and quinine can reduce ESR.
Step 3. Tell the nurse which arm you want to have blood drawn from
It is usually taken from the crook of the elbow. While the test shouldn't cause pain or swelling, you can ask for it to be done on the non-dominant arm. The nurse will also look for where the veins are most visible.
- Choosing a clearly visible vein allows you to perform the examination faster.
- If the nurse can't find a suitable vein in any of your arms, they can draw blood from another place.
- You should also inform the person taking your blood about your previous experiences with these types of tests. If you have a tendency to faint or feel dizzy when you have a blood test, you may be made to lie down to prevent injury if you pass out. If exams send you into crisis, have someone you trust drive to the hospital.
Step 4. Stay relaxed while your blood is drawn
The nurse will tie an elastic band on your upper arm and clean the injection site with alcohol. He will then insert a needle into the vein and draw your blood into a test tube. At the end of the operation it will remove the needle and the elastic. Finally, he will hand you a small piece of gauze and ask you to put pressure on the affected spot.
- If you are nervous, do not look at your arm during the collection.
- More than one tube may need to be filled; don't worry in this case.
- A compression bandage may be applied to maintain pressure on the sampling area and quickly stop bleeding. You can remove it at home after a couple of hours after the exam.
Step 5. Expect to see a hematoma or redness appear
In most cases, the wound from the harvest will heal in a day or two, but it can turn red or even bruise. This is completely normal. On rare occasions, the vein from which the blood was drawn may swell. This is not a serious problem, but it can be painful. Apply ice for the first day, then switch to a warm compress. You can make a hot compress by heating a damp cloth in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. Apply it to the affected area for 20 minutes a few times a day.
Check the temperature of the cloth by placing your hand over it. If the steam from the cloth is too hot to hold on your hand, wait 10-15 seconds and try again
Step 6. Contact your doctor if you get a fever
If the pain and swelling at the injection site gets worse, you may have contracted an infection. This is a very rare reaction. However, if you get a fever, call your doctor right away.
If your fever reaches or exceeds 39 ° C, your doctor may advise you to go to the emergency room
Advice
- Drink lots of water on the day of the exam. This helps make the veins more swollen and easier to find. You should also wear a shirt with wide sleeves.
- Since pregnancy and menstruation can cause high levels of ESR, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or having periods.
