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Inflammation is easy to name and hard to see, and a single marker rarely tells the whole story. An inflammatory markers panel measures more than one signal, so low-grade, ongoing inflammation has a better chance of showing up, and we interpret it in the context of how you feel.
The most common markers are C-reactive protein and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, often written as CRP and ESR. CRP is a protein your liver makes that rises quickly when there is inflammation, while ESR changes more slowly and reflects a more sustained pattern. A high-sensitivity version of CRP, hs-CRP, can detect smaller increases and is also used to assess cardiovascular risk. Measuring more than one gives a fuller sense of whether inflammation is present and how active it is.
These are honest but nonspecific markers, which is an important distinction. A raised result tells you inflammation is likely present but not where it is coming from, so the numbers only become useful when we read them alongside your symptoms and history. We use them as one input, not as a diagnosis on their own.
They measure related things in different ways. CRP responds quickly and is useful for picking up active inflammation, hs-CRP is the same protein measured with a more sensitive method often used for cardiovascular-risk context, and ESR is an indirect marker that shifts more slowly and can reflect longer-standing inflammation. Which combination is worth running depends on your situation.
Much of what people mean by "inflammation" is the low-grade, ongoing kind tied to diet, stress, sleep, and gut health. It does not always produce dramatic lab values, so we interpret results thoughtfully and in context rather than treating them as a simple on or off. That interpretation is where we add the most.
Sources: ACC/AHA Scientific Statement, 2025, AHA/CDC hs-CRP guidance; Pradhan et al., JAMA (2001).
You get context and a direction, not just a number to worry about. Because these markers point to inflammation without naming its source, we use them alongside your symptoms to decide what to investigate or address, which may include nutrition and lifestyle strategies, gut or metabolic support, and a retest to see whether the markers improve. Any further support is tied to what your fuller assessment shows.
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