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NATURAL ATHLETE
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Blood analysis can serve a useful purpose for athletes as it can sometimes give answers as to why performance has declined for no other obvious reason. It can also serve as a health check. There are numerous blood tests that can be performed. Below is a brief outline of some common tests. HORMONES The key to making progress is to train hard, eat correctly and rest. Many athletes spend huge amounts of money on supplements (some of which have little research to justify their use). Despite this if your hormones are not optimal, then no matter how hard you train, what fancy routines you use and consume loads of supplements, progress may not be forthcoming. The person with naturally optimal hormone levels is going to reap the benefits from their hard training and nutrtition. A simple Testosterone blood test, to measure the bodies natural anabolic hormone, is a good starting point. Low testosterone levels are associated with reduced muscle mass/strength and increased fat deposition. (1) RED BLOOD CELLS Red blood cells contain haemoglobin which transports oxygen in the body. Haemoglobin is made of iron and protein. If your haemoglobin levels are low (anaemia) then the blood's oxygen carrying capacity is reduced which can reduce your capacity to sustain exercise, even to the extent of making you feel generally lethargic. Anaemia may be caused by iron deficiency or a failure to produce sufficient numbers of red blood cells (this could be due to a deficiency of vitamin B12 and/or folic acid). It is advisable to increase your iron stores by eating more green leafy vegetables such as spinach, liver (an extremely good source of iron), eggs, lean meat and whole grain foods. The absorption of iron is increased if vitamin C is taken at the same time (e.g. drink a glass of fresh orange juice with your fortified breakfast cereal). Iron supplements are also available at most chemists, though these should only be taken on medical advice. WHITE BLOOD CELLS White blood cells are part of the immune system and are very important in surveying the body for infection. Endurance training causes the body to release hormones such as cortisol that can reduce the number and function of white blood cells in the blood. Cortisol is released when the body is stressed; it is known as a 'stress hormone' and your body perceives exercise as a stressor just as it does exams, moving house, redundancy, bereavement etc. Cortisol levels can become high for example, if your training has been particularly hard, you have been doing very long exercise sessions or many competitions, not eating enough carbohydrate at meals or during training, or having inadequate sleep. If the total white blood cell count is high, it may be that you have not recovered properly from a training session or that you may have an infection of some kind. It is never advisable to train with a cold or infection of any kind; your body is fighting to keep you healthy, so don't stress it more; take a few days off training until the symptoms of illness have gone. In the long term, you will miss fewer days training by stopping training altogether during illness than keeping training and risk developing further complications such as Post-Viral fatigue and Overtraining Syndrome. These complications may stop you training completely for very long periods of time or ultimately force you to retire from your sport. ELECTROLYTES Minerals are necessary for proper cellular metabolism, cardiac function, and muscle contractions. All too often endurance athletes find out too late that these electrolytes have been depleted through bodily fluids and perspiration, the signs of which are muscle weakness, nausea, and cramping. Even if you’ve never cramped or don’t see this as a real issue, there are other problems that arise from electrolyte depletion, problems that will adversely affect your performance. A deficiency in calcium, for example, can lead to achy joints, heart palpitations, nervousness, and hypertension. A deficiency in potassium will manifest itself in weakness and muscular fatigue, diminished reflex function, fluctuations in heartbeat, headaches, and edema. During an endurance event, and in particular an ultramarathon event, these problems become more acute. Making sure your electrolyte needs are met will help you avoid cramping and a host of other potential disasters. For bodybuilders, trying to diet inorder to lose weight quickly, electrolyte disturbances can become apparent, which can affect their training, concentration and health.(2) CREATINE KINASE Creatine kinase is an enzyme used as an indicator of muscle damage. Damage to skeletal muscle (e.g. by running, weight training, endurance cycling) results in the release of increased levels of creatine kinase into the blood. The normal reference range for the sedentary population is frequently exceeded in athletes because regular exercise training involves a certain degree of muscle damage and rebuilding. However, if levels are extremely high you may want to reduce your training to ensure your muscles have properly recovered from your last training sessions. On a week-to-week basis, ensure you are taking adequate rest days each week, the minimum recommendation is one day per week where you do no exercise at all. It is during recovery periods that your body adapts to the training sessions, muscle fibres regenerate and glycogen stores are replenished and ultimately, you gain the 'training effect'. TheDoctor Health Screen contains over 40 tests including those mentioned in this article. References: 1. J Endocrinol Invest. 1999;22(5 Suppl):110-6. Testosterone, body composition and aging.Vermeulen A, Goemaere S, Kaufman JM. Medical Clinic, Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. 2. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1998 Sep;38(3):245-52. Effect of a precompetition bodybuilding diet and training regimen on body composition and blood chemistry.Too D, Wakayama EJ, Locati LL, Landwer GE. Department of Physical Education and Sport, State University New York, Brockport 14420-2989, USA.
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