Did you ever get your blood tested for high ESR or CRP levels and wonder what that really is? You’re not the only one. Both tests – erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) – are frequently ordered to find inflammation in the body. But while they’re frequently ordered together, each does a little something different and responds differently to disease or injury.
Let’s break down what these tests are, why they are valuable, and what high levels might indicate for your health.
A Guide to Understanding Inflammation: Friend and Foe
Inflammation is a naughty word, but it’s really your own body’s immune defense mechanism. It’s what occurs when your immune system reacts to injury, infection, or stress. Healing does need acute, or short-term, inflammation. But if inflammation persists beyond its needed duration, then chronic inflammation sets in and that’s where things go wrong.
Chronic inflammation is a characteristic of numerous diseases, ranging from infection and autoimmunity to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. This is where tests such as CRP and ESR are helpful markers for the detection and monitoring of inflammation.
What is CRP Test?
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a liver product that emerges with inflammation. If a body has an infection or injury, CRP increases quickly — usually within a matter of hours. CRP is an acute inflammatory marker and might prove extremely helpful in identifying acute infection or deterioration of chronic disease.
- CRP Normal Level: Usually under 1.0 mg/dL (or under 10 mg/L with laboratory units being different).
What Is ESR Test?
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), or “sed rate,” is a test that measures how fast red blood cells in a test tube settle at the bottom of the test tube in one hour. The faster they fall, the higher the ESR. ESR rises with the presence of certain proteins associated with inflammation in the blood and hence is an indirect measure of inflammation.
ESR Normal Range is age and sex dependent:
- Men under 60: <12 mm/hr
- Women under 60: <20 mm/hr
- Men over 60: <30 mm/hr
- Women over 60: <35 mm/hr
CRP vs ESR Differences: Take a look
Though both tests detect inflammation, their behavior and accuracy differ:
| Feature | CRP Test | ESR Test |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Direct measure | In Direct measure |
| Speed of Rise | Rapid (within hours) | Slow (days) |
| Return to Normal | Within 3–7 days | Takes longer |
| Influenced by | Mainly inflammation | Also age, sex, anemia, pregnancy, medications |
Due to its quick response, CRP is usually utilized for the identification of early inflammation, while ESR may be utilized for tracking chronic or ongoing inflammation. However, physicians usually request both tests simultaneously to enhance the clarity.
What Are the Causes of High ESR and CRP Levels?
High ESR or CRP does not indicate a specific illness. They are non-specific inflammatory markers, therefore they may be raised in a very broad variety of conditions. They do, however, provide helpful evidence that there is inflammation within the body.
Some of the frequent causes are:
1. Autoimmune Disorders
Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease cause the body to attack itself using the immune system. This chronic immune response increases CRP and ESR, usually chronically.
2. Infections
Viral and bacterial infections cause inflammation as the immune system responds. CRP and ESR levels usually rise and then decrease once the infection clears.
3. Cancer
Cancers also induce inflammation upon multiplying and moving abnormal cells. In some instances, high CRP and ESR levels may also appear as a presenting symptom, particularly in some malignancies such as lymphoma or multiple myeloma.
4. Heart Attack or Stroke
Decreased blood flow or obstruction leads to cell death and generates an intense inflammatory reaction. This increases ESR and CRP as part of the body’s healing process.
5. Injury or Surgery
Physical trauma induces an inflammatory reaction to allow for healing in the body. High CRP/ ESR levels during convalescence are a physiologic phenomenon and tends to return to baseline in good time.
6. Pregnancy
Pregnancy increases ESR, but CRP to a lesser extent, due to hormonal and plasma protein elevation.
Symptoms of High ESR and CRP Levels
You will not get a high result of ESR or CRP, but the underlying condition which is causing the elevation has symptoms. Depending upon the cause, you can have:
- Swelling or pain in the joints (autoimmune)
- Fever (infection)
- Tiredness and weakness
- Skin rash
- Trouble with vision (eye inflammatory diseases)
- Unexplained loss of weight
When Would a Doctor Prescribe These ESR and CRP Tests?
Your physician will typically order ESR and CRP tests if he or she suspects inflammation from imaging, symptoms, or even follow-up. The markers are routinely employed to:
- Assist with inflammatory disease diagnosis
- Monitor disease activity in autoimmune illnesses
- Monitor response to treatment
- Monitor chronic infection
These tests are hardly ever ordered alone. They are ordered along with physical exam, imaging, and other lab work for proper diagnosis.
Can You Reduce CRP and ESR?
If infection or trauma triggered your CRP/ESR level, the results will typically return to normal after you’ve recovered — no medication required.
But if you have long-standing inflammation, physicians will prescribe:
- Anti-inflammatory medications: Steroids, NSAIDs, or immunosuppressants
- Ambushing the underlying cause: Such as antibiotics for infection or DMARDs for autoimmune disease
- Lifestyle changes: Research shows diet, exercise, sleep, and even social connections may influence inflammatory markers. A diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods and poor in sugar and saturated fat can decrease chronic inflammation.
The Bottom Line
CRP and ESR are fundamental pillars of modern medicine. They help detect, monitor, and manage inflammation in the body. Even though they cannot on their own recognize the actual cause, they provide essential information that will help guide diagnosis and treatment. If your CRP or ESR is not normal, don’t panic. Talk to your doctor about what it may mean in the big picture of your health. Devansh Lab Werks offers both CRP and ESR tests so that you can get them done at anytime. We also offer home sample collection service in case commuting is an issue. Educating yourself is the key to being proactive regarding your own health. However, when it comes to inflammation, knowledge is indeed power.