ESR stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which is a blood test that indirectly measures the level of inflammation in the body. If an ESR test shows that your red blood cells sink faster than normal, it may mean you have a medical condition causing inflammation. The speed of your test result is a sign of how much inflammation you have. Faster ESR rates mean higher levels of inflammation. A high ESR usually indicates the presence of inflammation in the body but can also be seen with certain anemias and malignancies. If you have a high ESR, your doctor will likely order additional tests to help determine the cause, as an ESR test alone cannot diagnose a specific condition, as many factors can affect the results. High ESR levels may indicate infection, inflammation, or other serious medical conditions. However, a high ESR test result does not always mean that you have a medical condition that needs treatment. Pregnancy, a menstrual cycle, aging, obesity, drinking alcohol regularly, and exercise can affect ESR results. Therefore, it is important to interpret ESR levels in conjunction with other clinical evaluations to determine the underlying cause.