How can ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) level be reduced?

Question

How can ESR level for people aged above fifty be reduced? Please recommend dietary improvements/changes also

Answer 1

ESR is a measure of the settling of red blood cells in a tube of blood during one hour. The rate is an indication of inflammation and increases in many diseases. ESR is increased in rheumatoid diseases, most infections, and in cancer. An advanced rate doesn't diagnose a specific disease, but it does indicate that an underlying disease may be present. As it would indication an infection or disease, there is no diet to lower the level. Your doctor needs to determine what the exact cause is, then go from there.

Answer 2

I am a Medical Technologist and I have been working in medical labs for nearly 20 years and I'll tell you now that one of the most worthless and meaningless tests we do is the ESR. This is an archaic test and absolutely non-specific. It tells the doctor only that there is inflammation somewhere in your body, no indication of where or what is causing it, only that it is there. Many people past 40 have arthritis or are starting to develop it so they will all have elevated sed rates. Nothing in the way of dietary or lifesyle changes will affect the sed rate. The vast majority of Laboratory Professionals would like to see this test discontinued and never offered again because it is so meaningless, however there are still too many old doctors out there who refuse to let it go and who try to read far more information out of the test thatn it has to give. In short, considering your age, an elevated sed rate is probably normal and nothing to worry about.

Answer 3

Good answers. :-)