Doctor's Assessment Included
Every result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.
ESR Blood Test: What Does Your Sedimentation Rate Mean?
ESR helps gauge systemic inflammation, which can indicate overtraining or insufficient recovery. Monitoring supports balanced training load management.
What It Measures
For this test a tube of blood is taken. It measures how fast red blood cells settle in that tube, expressed in mm per hour. When there is inflammation in the body, certain proteins in the blood increase, making red blood cells clump together and settle faster. How fast red blood cells settle can therefore say something about a possible inflammatory response.
Why It Matters
ESR is a non-specific marker. A slightly raised result can have many causes and is best viewed in context. For many adults a normal value is roughly below 15 to 20 mm per hour, although reference values vary by laboratory, age, and sex. A raised ESR can be associated with infections from bacteria or viruses, with tumours, and with autoimmune conditions. ESR is often viewed together with C-reactive protein (CRP). Discuss your results with your GP.
When to Test
Some people have their ESR measured for unexplained fever, joint pain, or muscle aches, or to follow up on a previously diagnosed condition. Because ESR does not indicate where an inflammation is located, the result is usually combined with other blood values and your symptoms. Your GP can help you decide whether further steps are needed.
Symptoms
Low Levels
High Levels
Lifestyle Tips
Address underlying causes of inflammation through a healthy diet, regular exercise, stress management, and adequate sleep. Work with your healthcare provider on any persistent elevation.