Why is there a rise in my ESR values?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 41-year-old female with no health problems as such. For the last six months, I have had ESR values of 61, then 82, and then again 61. My ESR was 60, even two years ago. My physician prescribed me multivitamins. Now I have got my 12-year-old daughter who hit puberty last year and got her ESR at 44.

My daughter also does not have any illness or sickness, and she is perfectly fine. She is overweight, and so am I. Please guide what I should do now. Are we both having some serious problems?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

The most common cause of raised ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) in females is low hemoglobin.

For every 1 g decrease in hemoglobin below 13 g, the ESR will rise by about 5. ESR has no significance unless the person has underlying inflammation.

You need to mention the hemoglobin level and the method by which ESR was measured, whether it was Westergren's or Wintrobe's.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Her corrected ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) will be 30.

You both need to check CRP (C-reactive protein) level and if that is normal, then ignore the ESR values.

The high values can also be due to obesity.

You might have insulin resistance which can cause a rise in the ESR and sometimes uric acid and CRP also.