|
||
Sports Medicine A Crucial Period Good Pain, Bad Pain On Your Knees Secondary Injuries Imaging Technology What's Sciatica? The Female Athlete Putting Your Feet First Itis Schmitis Too Much, Too Soon Under the Influence Twisted What's Goin' On? Think Inches, Not Pounds Preventing Vaginitis That Painful Pull Athlete's Heart Exercise & Arthritis Chilled to the Bone Measuring Body Fat Exercise and Your Breasts Choosing a Sports Doctor Lean on Me (Shoulder) Exercise & Anemia Exercise Abuse Pelvis Sighting Hand Aid It's All in the Wrist Back in Action Altitude Adjustment Tennis Elbow, Anyone? Exercising in the Heat Agony of the Feet Restless Legs Night Time Cramps Birth Control Concerns No Periods, No Babies? Post Partum Prescription Weight Loss Mystery Undesirable Cooldown To Brew Or Not To Brew Fitness After Baby Biking and Back Pain Swimmer's Shoulder A Hidden Athlete Avoiding Osteoporosis Drug Testing Maximum Heart Rate Headway Against Headaches Torn Rotator Cuff Fat Figures SOS About PMS Bloody Urine Sag Story Lackluster Leg Bothersome Bulge Gaining in Years Taking It On the Shin Aching Ankles Hoop Help Tender Toes Meals For Muscle Growing Pains Hot Tips High Altitude PMS Personal Bests Air Pollution Ankle Blues Heartbreak Heel Yeast Relief |
Exercise and AnemiaWhen "tired blood" slows you down.A drop in athletic performance or a general feeling of fatigue may indicate you are suffering from anemia, a condition in which the production and amount of your red blood cells is below normal. Red blood cells which carry oxygen from the lungs to muscle tissues and organs are synthesized in the bone marrow Each cell lives for about 120 days in the circulation. An adequate supply of these red blood cells is essential to physical activity and overall well-being. A low red blood cell count means less oxygen is being delivered to performing muscles. Because oxygen is essential to burn the calories used by muscles in aerobic exercise, this can have a direct effect on your ability to perform. A molecule of iron is needed to make part of a protein called "hemoglobin" in the red blood cells. Hemoglobin is the essential protein that carries oxygen in the red blood cell. Without adequate iron, your body is unable to make new red blood cells, resulting in iron-deficiency anemia, sometimes called "tired blood." It is the most common type of anemia. Testing for anemia may be done by either a finger prick or by drawing blood from a vein with a needle. Initially two screening tests are performed. The hematocrit test measures the percentage of plasma that red blood cells comprise. Normally between 36 and 46 percent of your plasma volume is red blood cells; the rest is proteins and electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium) dissolved in water. The hemoglobin test measures the grams of hemoglobin per 100 milliliters of blood volume. Normal values for women are 12 to 15 grams/100 ml of blood. Any value below this is abnormal and indicates that you are suffering from anemia. Normal values for both hemoglobin and hematocrit are higher in men because of the influence of androgens (male hormones such as testosterone), which act to increase red blood cell production. Normal hematocrit for men is 46 to 56 percent, and for hemoglobin is 14 to 17 g/100 ml. These higher values are part of the reason men have greater oxygen-carrying capacity and aerobic performance. If your iron values are low, can it effect your performance? |
Order Now! Table of Contents Foreword: Billie Jean King Comments by Barb Harris Editor in Chief, Shape Magazine
|
The information in this web site is for educational purposes only and is not providing medical or professional advice. It should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. If you have or suspect you might have any health problems, you should consult a physician. Copyright 2000 - Sports Doctor, Inc. |