Inflammation / Immune
ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
Unit: mm/hrID: I002
What This Test Measures
Non-specific inflammation marker
Conventional vs. Functional Optimal Range
Conventional "Normal"
0-20 (men), 0-30 (women) mm/hrYour doctor says you're "fine" anywhere in this range
Functional Optimal
≤5 (men), ≤10 (women) mm/hrThis is where you actually feel great
The gap between these ranges is why you feel terrible with "normal" labs. Conventional medicine waits for disease. Functional medicine optimizes for health.
Gabriel's Take
ESR >20 flags inflammation but is non-specific (infections, autoimmune, cancer). Slower/older test than hs-CRP. Gabriel's optimal band: 5 or less for men, 10 or less for women. Very high ESR (>50) warrants urgent workup for temporal arteritis, infection, or malignancy.
When This Test Is High
Inflammation, infection, autoimmune disease, cancer
When This Test Is Low
Low inflammation
Related Conditions
Rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, temporal arteritis, infections
Recommended Follow-Up
If elevated, check hs-CRP, autoimmune markers; identify inflammation source