Why We Prefer ESR Over CRP for Inflammation Tracking

Ever wonder why your COR One device measures ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) instead of the more famous CRP? You’re not alone! This week, we’re spotlighting ESR and how it gives you a big-picture view of your inflammation trends. Just like Oura or Levels help you track broad health signals (think heart rate variability or glucose), COR One uses ESR as your go-to inflammation indicator – and for good reason!

ESR: Your Week-to-Week Inflammation Marker

ESR is ideal for weekly trend tracking. ESR and CRP are often overlapped but unlike CRP (which measures just one protein), ESR reflects multiple inflammation-related proteins. It offers a more stable, big-picture look at how your body’s doing week over week. If something’s brewing, ESR will signal it, and if you’re improving, you’ll see ESR drift down over time. ESR falls back to baseline more gradually than spiky CRP, why is that? It’s because there is still inflammation present in your body that the single protein CRP misses but ESR sees. Your inflammosome is complex and ESR sees this complexity.

(Imagine CRP as a quick spike, while ESR is more like a steady wave that stays elevated or lowered for longer. That steadiness helps you monitor chronic inflammation over multiple weeks.)

Broad Markers = Big-Picture Insights

Broad, non-specific markers—like ESR—are great for spotting underlying patterns. Think of ESR like a watchtower that can detect inflammation from many different causes: a poor night’s sleep, a run of junk food, a tough workout, or even a viral cold. Because ESR captures multiple inflammatory pathways, it clues you in on your body’s overall state, rather than just measuring one isolated protein.

Why We Chose ESR Over CRP

1. Sensitive to Low-Grade Inflammation: Standard CRP and hsCRP tests sometimes miss subtle changes; ESR often catches these “quiet” fluctuations. Even hsCRP struggles at low level “silent” inflammation due to sensitivity limits and accuracy.
2. Broader Coverage: ESR reflects a whole team of proteins, giving a more comprehensive look at inflammation.
3. Stable Trends: Unlike CRP’s quick spikes, ESR changes more slowly—perfect for weekly tracking and lifestyle adjustments.
4. Room to Improve: Many people have a mildly elevated ESR without realizing it. With COR One, you can spot it and work on lifestyle changes (like better sleep, diet, and stress management) to bring it down.

Empowering You to Connect the Dots

Tracking your ESR with COR One puts you in the driver’s seat. Each week, you get a reading you can link to how you felt and what you did. Notice ESR went down after a few nights of quality sleep? Celebrate that win! Spot a jump after an especially hectic week? Now you know to adjust your routine. Over time, you’ll learn your personal inflammation patterns. It’s not about one “high” or “low” reading—it’s about the overall trend.

Our philosophy is that knowledge is power. ESR is like taking your inflammation’s pulse anytime you want. By seeing how your actions influence this number, you can make informed decisions that guide you toward better health.

What Next?

Check your ESR trend in the COR One app and note any lifestyle factors that might be at play. If your ESR is improving, keep doing what works. If it’s higher than you’d like, think about ways to support your body—like prioritizing rest, eating more whole foods, or cutting back on stress. Small changes can make a big difference over weeks and months.

Thanks for being a part of the COR community and for taking charge of your health journey! Keep those questions and experiences coming—we’re here to support you in decoding your body’s signals.