Inflammation is often seen as the villain in health conversations. It’s blamed for chronic diseases, from heart disease and diabetes to dementia and even cancer. Given the way it’s portrayed in headlines, one might assume that eliminating inflammation would solve most health problems. But the truth is more complex.
Inflammation is not always harmful. In fact, it’s an essential part of the body’s defense system. When you get a cut, sprain your ankle, or catch a cold, your immune system triggers inflammation to help you heal. The problem arises when inflammation becomes chronic and lingers in the body for months or even years without an apparent cause. This type of inflammation can contribute to serious health issues.
So, should you be tested for inflammation? While tests exist to measure it, they aren’t necessary for everyone. Let’s explore when they can be useful and what they actually tell us.
There are several blood tests that can indicate the presence of inflammation in the body. However, these tests do not differentiate between short-term (acute) inflammation such as what happens when you have an infection or injury and chronic inflammation, which is linked to long-term health conditions.
Here are four common tests used to measure inflammation:
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR): This test measures how quickly red blood cells settle at the bottom of a test tube. Inflammatory conditions cause proteins in the blood to make red blood cells clump together and settle faster. A normal result is typically below 20 mm/hr, while values above 100 mm/hr indicate significant inflammation.
C-Reactive Protein (CRP): Produced by the liver, CRP levels increase when there is inflammation in the body. A reading below 3 mg/L is considered normal, but chronic inflammation can push CRP levels to 100 mg/L or more. Elevated CRP is also associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
Ferritin: This protein reflects the amount of iron stored in the body. While primarily used to assess anemia, ferritin levels also rise with inflammation. Normal values vary but generally fall between 20 and 200 mcg/L.
Fibrinogen: This blood-clotting protein tends to increase in response to inflammation. A normal range is 200 to 400 mg/dL, but higher levels may indicate chronic inflammation or an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Inflammation tests can be helpful in specific medical situations, such as:
- Diagnosing an inflammatory condition: Some diseases, like giant cell arteritis (a type of blood vessel inflammation), are identified through elevated ESR levels.
- Monitoring an existing condition: For conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, doctors use ESR or CRP to track disease activity and assess how well treatments are working.
However, these tests are not perfect. Sometimes, inflammation is present but doesn’t show up in test results (false negatives). Other times, test results indicate inflammation even when none is actually there (false positives).
Routine testing for inflammation is not recommended for healthy individuals without symptoms. Medical guidelines do not include these tests as part of standard health checkups.
CRP testing, however, may be useful in specific cases such as for individuals at intermediate risk of heart disease. For people with known risk factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, CRP results might help doctors determine whether additional preventive measures are necessary.
That said, companies selling direct-to-consumer inflammation tests often promote the idea that everyone should get tested. But is this really necessary?
Chronic inflammation can be “silent,” meaning you may not experience obvious symptoms. However, instead of relying on a single test, the best way to manage inflammation is to address underlying causes through regular health checkups. Many common conditions, such as:
- Obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Chronic infections (e.g., hepatitis C)
- Autoimmune disorders
…are associated with chronic inflammation. Identifying and treating these conditions is more effective than simply testing for inflammation without knowing the cause.
Inflammation is a key player in many health conditions, but routine testing for it isn’t necessary for most people. While blood tests like CRP, ESR, and ferritin can provide useful information, they should be used in specific medical situations, not as a general screening tool.
Instead of worrying about inflammation test results, focus on healthy lifestyle choices to reduce inflammation naturally. Eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, managing stress, and getting enough sleep all play a crucial role in keeping inflammation in check.
If you’re concerned about inflammation or have a condition that might be linked to it, talk to your doctor. They can help determine whether testing is appropriate for you and guide you toward the best strategies for maintaining long-term health.
