Why do you say 37.9 is “low”. What does “normal” mean anyways? This is your “normal”
Bottom line, is if you take anything to bust levels, you already know the answer to what you are doing.
there’s definitely a disconnect.
if youre hct is 38, and you’re a male.
you’re anemic.
an anemia is never normal.
if you had a workup, and they said there was nothing wrong then you need another doctor.
Bottom line, is if you take anything to bust levels, you already know the answer to what you are doing.
I disagree.
What about taking iron or folic acid?
How can you reconcile OTC exogenous supplements made in a lab with other prescription exogenous substances made in a lab when the standard judging unethical use/overuse/abuse (HCT > 49) applies to all persons without regard to whether a person with hct of 48.9 is “natural” or enhanced by the use of pharmaceuticals?
The only logical answer is the prescription legally and professional safeguards use… I wonder if prescription medications can be bought on the black market or the internet?
Compare this with “using” altitude tents, power meters, & heart rate monitors. They are all artificial means of improving performance where use is only limited by their purchase price.
I understand what you’re getting at, but I think this is a case of “it’s my ball and if you don’t play by rules, then you cannot play,” which is arbitrary and capricious.
Hematocrits are regularly low in endurance athletes who live train at lower altitudes. Training effects/increases blood plasma volume, that is the non-cellular, liquid portion of whole blood. This dilutes your red cells giving you a lower hematocrit. If your other numbers are normal, RBCs and hemaglobin levels which don’t alter much with the plasma volume you’re like most trained distance athletes.
The higher blood plasma volume is a positive adaptation to training as more volume is pumped thru your circulation by your better trained and more effecient heart muscle. This volume is lost fairly rapidly with detraining, so that your “low” trained hematocrit will “normalize” in just a few weeks of nontraining.
Hematocrits are regularly low in endurance athletes who live train at lower altitudes. Training effects/increases blood plasma volume, that is the non-cellular, liquid portion of whole blood. This dilutes your red cells giving you a lower hematocrit. If your other numbers are normal, RBCs and hemaglobin levels which don’t alter much with the plasma volume you’re like most trained distance athletes.
The higher blood plasma volume is a positive adaptation to training as more volume is pumped thru your circulation by your better trained and more effecient heart muscle. This volume is lost fairly rapidly with detraining, so that your “low” trained hematocrit will “normalize” in just a few weeks of nontraining.
+1, it is very normal for endurance athletes to have levels in and around 38-41, mine is usually around 38-39 and this has never stopped me from going to Kona.
I remember reading that Lances was around 41 aorund TDF time.
I remember reading that Lances was around 41 aorund TDF time.
Down from 55 two months prior 
.
I remember reading that Lances was around 41 aorund TDF time.
Down from 55 two months prior
Cuz they take so many samples! 
The guy was tested 80+ times in one year. Honestly, he’s either the single best doper ever, or clean.
I’ve had 5 blood tests over 2 years. HCT ranges from 36-39 all the time. Doc says I’m slightly anemic and wanted to give me iron sups but I declined. I have no other symptoms other tan the #'s themselves. Very few guys have a ‘normal’ of over 45 or so. Even less endurance athletes. It’s only one aspect of performance. Gotta live with what you got.
Check out the study on echinacea and another on beetroot juice if you want to try something legal. Though the jury is still far from in on either of those substances. Don’t tell H2O fun though, he’ll still call you a doper.
Personally, I sucked down two bottles of EPNO and eat beets like a madman and saw zero change.
I’ve had 5 blood tests over 2 years. HCT ranges from 36-39 all the time. Doc says I’m slightly anemic and wanted to give me iron sups but I declined. I have no other symptoms other tan the #'s themselves. Very few guys have a ‘normal’ of over 45 or so. Even less endurance athletes. It’s only one aspect of performance. Gotta live with what you got.
Check out the study on echinacea and another on beetroot juice if you want to try something legal. Though the jury is still far from in on either of those substances. Don’t tell H2O fun though, he’ll still call you a doper.
Personally, I sucked down two bottles of EPNO and eat beets like a madman and saw zero change.
OMG, dude, you’re a kid…why are you spending so much time in a doctor’s office? Is this normal for college age folks these days?
One more thought that is generally not tested for in a “routine work-up” is mild hemolytic anemia or “heel strike anemia”.
It is the destruction of red blood cells from the impact of running. There are a few tests that could be done - both blood and urine.
If Iron levels are low - that can also be lost in sweat.
Also I tend to agree the HCT is not alarmingly low - but a recheck down the road is appropriate.
Good luck.
One more thought that is generally not tested for in a “routine work-up” is mild hemolytic anemia or “heel strike anemia”.
It is the destruction of red blood cells from the impact of running. There are a few tests that could be done - both blood and urine.
If Iron levels are low - that can also be lost in sweat.
Also I tend to agree the HCT is not alarmingly low - but a recheck down the road is appropriate.
Good luck.
How common is this? This is something that super old pathologists always mention as a potential cause of hemolytic anemia but none of them have ever personally seen a clear case of running as the cause of a hemolytic anemia.
I remember reading that Lances was around 41 aorund TDF time.
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Mine just tested at 42.6 when I had my Cholesterol checked, and I thought that must be low, since its near the lower normal limit.
Moved, to a new city, had a child, switched careers…stressed the F%^& out and chronically sick for awhile. Doc was running regular CBC’s to jack up the bill. And I am weel beyond college years.
Moved, to a new city, had a child, switched careers…stressed the F%^& out and chronically sick for awhile. Doc was running regular CBC’s to jack up the bill. And I am weel beyond college years.
doh! Sorry, had you confused with someone else…all you triathletes look the same.
How common is this? This is something that super old pathologists always mention as a potential cause of hemolytic anemia but none of them have ever personally seen a clear case of running as the cause of a hemolytic anemia.
- Not sure of the incidence.
Would guess is not checked as often - thus under reported.
It is not uncommon for endurance athletes to have increased blood volume, thus creating the illusion of reduced hematocrit levels. I live at altitude (meaning I should have increased hematocrit) and have a job that requires an annual physical. My hematocrit is always low. The positive is it that it pushed me to an early colonoscopy, that found a pre-cancerous polyp.
If my hematocrit hits 41 it’s a miracle. It was around 35-36 but I also had a 7mm ulcer. since then it’s never been above 40.5. In fact I’ve had it tested about 10-12x over the years and only been just over 40 2x.
Call me a doper if you want but I take iron supplements when i remember.
Ouch…my regular HCT when training ~20hrs is around 45, with Hgb ~15.5.
“Normal Ranges” of lab test values are based on a calculated average of a general/regional population. The sub-populations that are usually calculated are Male, Female and Pediatric. The populations are representative of a wide range of people over a wide range of ages and can be representative of a particular region. A good example is a resident population of people at altitude. Their normal range for hemoglobin and hematocrit may be slightly higher that a population at sea level. Another good example is a population that relies mainly on a seafood subsistence (i.e. coastal populations in Japan), their “normal range” for cholesterol would be lower than the “normal range” for the good 'ol midwestern folk of the US of A.
Since the normal ranges are calculated based on a broad patient demographic (old, young, healthy, not-so-healthy), it really might not represent the super healthy, highly active, 6% body fat types. I would bet that if we did get the hct and hgb values for “true” highly fit types like the 5% of ST’ers :), the “normal” range would be lower than a general population.
0.02 cents from a lab person.