Haematocrit

I had a blood test and asked for my Haematocrit level. It was 41.8, which is less than it was two years ago when it was 45.3! Typical levels are between 40 and 50.

RBC was 4.6, again less than two years ago when it was 4.9. Typical levels are between 4.5 and 5.5.

Quite disappointing really. I was hoping at the very least for an increase over two years ago.

I have no idea what you just said, Matt... ;]

shouts use the fucking google and runs.........

i was hoping this was a "For sale:" thread.

why did you hope your red blood cells had increased- you taking epo or something? I dont think there is much of a link between fitness and red blood cells, correct me if I am wrong. Haematocrit is just the percentage of red cells compared to plasma so pretty basic test and can be affected by dehydration which will reduce plasma therefore psuedo-increasing the heamatocrit.

more red blood cells means they can take more oxygen to your muscles.

but then you would need more efficient lungs too yes? and if you live in london your lungs are probably fucked from the pollution anyway.

why did you hope your red blood cells had increased- you taking epo or something?

or looking for evidence that his training is working?!?

I dont think there is much of a link between fitness and red blood cells, correct me if I am wrong.

you're wrong. aerobic fitness is reasonably closely tied to your red blood cell count, as (other things being equal) more red blood cells => more oxygen carrying capacity => more aerobic metabolism => more ATP in your muscles.

Haematocrit is just the percentage of red cells compared to plasma so pretty basic test and can be affected by dehydration which will reduce plasma therefore psuedo-increasing the heamatocrit.

true (i think).

illy have you had your VO2 max tested? prolly a more reliable method of testing whether you're more or less fit than last time.

Oh right. I thought Illy was ill.

Glad to know you're well, though not as well as you'd like.

Is there a similar way of testing vo2 max on a bike to the running bleep test.

Haven't done any running in about 5 months so would be useless for me....

you generally do a VO2 max test on a treadmill or a turbo trainer, cos you need to be hooked up to a mouthpiece that captures your breath and measures what you're breathing out. you need to be able to steadily increase the intensity of the test in a controlled fashion (ie increase the speed or incline of a treadmill, or increase the resistance on a bike). the beep test is designed to simulate the VO2 max test without the proper equipment, but it's nowhere near as accurate.

I had a blood test and asked for my Haematocrit level. It was 41.8, which is less than it was two years ago when it was 45.3! Typical levels are between 40 and 50.

RBC was 4.6, again less than two years ago when it was 4.9. Typical levels are between 4.5 and 5.5.

Quite disappointing really. I was hoping at the very least for an increase over two years ago.

Nice to see someone taking the upcoming Rollapaluza seriously....maybe a little too seriuosly?

Freaks...

I had a blood test and asked for my Haematocrit level. It was 41.8, which is less than it was two years ago when it was 45.3! Typical levels are between 40 and 50.

RBC was 4.6, again less than two years ago when it was 4.9. Typical levels are between 4.5 and 5.5.

Quite disappointing really. I was hoping at the very least for an increase over two years ago.

You're getting old.
It happens to us all.
sigh

You live at lower altitude now, init.