Very often in the results of analyzes people see such an abbreviation as ESR. This indicator may indicate the presence of various diseases. Such an analysis is done in any laboratory at public and private hospitals, it is carried out easily and simply, which is why it is very popular in identifying certain ailments. Today we will find out what ESR is, what is the norm for men, and what the decrease or increase in this indicator indicates.
How to read the abbreviation?
The abbreviation ESR stands for "erythrocyte sedimentation rate". It is worth saying that this is a very important indicator of the state of human he alth. The analysis is done in order to determine whether pathological processes take place in the body or not. The ESR indicator, of course, can change, which allows it to be used for diagnostic purposes, and it also makes it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of a particular therapy. But the deviation of the value from the norm will indicate acute or chronic inflammation, the presence of a tumor or other ailment in the body.
Reasons for the increase
There are times when the rate of ESR in the blood of men is increased, this may indicate the occurrence of some kind of adverse process in the body. This indicator can even warn the doctor about the disease even before the first signs of it appear. Therefore, if the rate of ESR in the blood of men is increased, then it is necessary to undergo a detailed examination.
This test can be the basis for establishing a specific diagnosis. It will be useful in detecting a large number of ailments:
- Tuberculosis.
- Arthritis, rheumatism.
- Skin infections.
- Thyroid ailments.
- Various purulent, inflammatory processes.
- Tissue death.
- Infections of the heart and its valves.
- Diseases of the kidneys, liver and biliary tract.
- Continuous infection (the presence of inflammation in the body of an unclear nature).
- Malignant tumors.
Reason for the decline
Sometimes in the practice of doctors there are situations when the ESR values are below normal. In men, this happens with the following conditions and diseases:
- Polycythemia is a malignant tumor process in the circulatory system.
- Starvation and, against this background, a decrease in muscle mass.
- Circulatory failure.
- Spherocytosis is an anomaly in which irregularly shaped leukocytes are found in the blood.
- Sickle cell anemia.
- Using corticosteroids.
- Kidney disease andliver.
- Vegetarianism.
Standard indicators
Now let's find out what are the standard values of ESR in men. The rate of this indicator varies depending on the age of the person. That is, the values can change, while remaining within the standard framework. So, the normal boundaries of ESR in men are as follows:
- 18 to 20 years old - 12mm/hr.
- 20 to 55 years old - 14 mm/hr.
- After 55 – 19-32mm/hr.
Degrees of deviations
Differences from acceptable ESR parameters are usually divided into the following categories:
- Minor deviations that are within acceptable limits.
- ESR in men, the norm of which is exceeded by 15-30 points, indicates violations in the body of a man - there is a mild infection.
- Deviation from normal values by 30-60 units. This indicates the presence of a serious inflammatory process in the human body.
- The norm of ESR in the blood of men is exceeded by more than 60 units. This is a reason to visit the doctor immediately.
Preparing for analysis
An important point to pay attention to is proper preparation for the examination. Before the doctor appoints a man to take a general blood test, he must consult him, tell him about the rules of preparation. Following the doctor's instructions will help to obtain clearer results and their correct interpretation.
So, you need to remember the following rules:
- The procedure should be done on an empty stomach, in the morning.
- The day before the event, do not overeat, eat fatty and spicy foods, as well as various alcoholic drinks.
- You must refrain from smoking at least 1 hour before blood sampling.
- There is no need to worry in the laboratory where the analysis will be carried out. It is better to rest for a few minutes and calm down, because this is just a prick in the finger.
If everything is done correctly, it remains only to wait for the result of the analysis - whether the indicator is satisfactory, the ESR norm is exceeded or lowered in a person who donated blood. Doctors recommend donating blood once a year to prevent hidden he alth problems.
How is ESR determined?
After the specialist takes material from a person for analysis, he releases the patient, and he gives the reagent for diagnosis. In the laboratory, a coagulate is added to the test tube so that the blood does not clot, then it is placed in a narrow beaker for 1 hour. RBCs are heavier than plasma, so they soon begin to sink to the bottom. And it turns out that the blood is distributed into 2 segments: lower and upper. And it is by the height of the plasma layer that experts estimate the ESR in millimeters per hour.
If a person is he althy, then the rate at which the cells descend will be very small. If there is an inflammatory process in the body, then the level of ESR increases. The norm for women and men of this indicator is different. This is due to differentblood chemistry. If for men the standard values are: 12, 14 and 32 mm / h, then for women the acceptable figures are: 4-15 mm / h (age from 20 to 30 years), 8-25 mm / h (from 30 to 60 years) and 12-50 mm/hour (after 60 years).
Reasons distorting the result
There are factors due to which the results of the analysis may be erroneous. This could be:
- When choosing the wrong anticoagulant.
- If the person is not prepared for the analysis.
- If the laboratory assistant did not send the blood to the laboratory in time.
- If the specialist used too thin a needle.
- If the temperature conditions are not met in the room where the analysis is being carried out. To obtain correct results, the study should be carried out in a cool room (18-25 degrees). At higher air temperatures, the ESR increases, and at lower temperatures it decreases.
If at least one factor was not observed, the analysis should be retaken in order to achieve the correct result of the study.
Now you know what this or that result of the analysis means, and how the abbreviation ESR stands for. In men, the norm of this indicator varies depending on age: the older the person, the higher the allowable values. If deviations from the normal value are found, then this indicates the presence of some kind of disease. In order for the results of the analysis to be true, a person must properly prepare for the laboratory test procedure.
