In this article we want to explain the importance of the values obtained in an ordinary medical test, such as a blood test, for any athlete. They will give us clues as to whether our training is excessive, or our diet is deficient.
To go from muscle adaptations to continuous training occurring 2-4 weeks after training (according to Verkoshansky), or adaptations due to diet occurring after 4-7 days (Lyle McDonald), physiological adaptations inside the body can occur after the first day of training (Baechle & Warle). That is, if the day before a blood test, we do a very intense training, the analytical values will be affected.
For example, for a triathlete, the main adaptation that occurs in your body at the beginning of the new season, after a period of regeneration, is the increase in plasma volume (blood plasma is made up of proteins such as albumins or globulins, water, and other solutes, such as waste products (urea, uric acid …), vitamins and gases to a greater extent. This increases between 20 and 25%, which means that if its volume at that time is 5 liters of blood, due to the effect of resistance training, the volume will increase to 6 liters.
When should an analysis be carried out?
Before starting a training program, to know if we have any cardiovascular risk. When we are tired, to see if we are following a poor diet, or our workouts are being excessive. It is also convenient when a training period ends, to see the adaptations produced in our body. It must also be taken into account that the life span of erythrocytes is 128 days and even less than 90 days for triathletes or endurance athletes. This gives us the clue that 3 analytics a year would be the minimum recommended.
What happens when we overdo our workouts, or our diet is not balanced?
- Leukocytes decrease . White blood cells or leukocytes are cells with defensive functions of the body, against bacteria, viruses, etc. Here we include lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils. These values are low, when we do hard training periods, with insufficient recovery. The defenses go down. Symptoms appear, such as sores in the mouth, which is revealing an overtraining. If we get to this point, it is time to rest, or do very light training (in the GPP (General Physical Preparation) style that Thibaudau claims). In addition to rest, it is very important that we review our diet, and that vitamins and minerals are not lacking.
- Hemoglobin decreases . Hemoglobin is a protein that occupies almost all the plasma of the erythrocyte, or red blood cell (responsible for the transport of oxygen to all the cells of the body), and in which oxygen fixation occurs. Hemoglobin contains iron . Therefore, if the value of this is lower than normal, it is describing an anemia . Our performance in cardiovascular activities will be reduced. Hemoglobin is a value that increases and improves with adequate cardiovascular training. That is, it is another physiological adaptation in our body produced by training. To combat low values of this, we must ingest a correct amount of iron (beef fillets), they are two good sources of iron), and vitamin B12, and folic acid. To prevent anemia, pregnant women supplement daily with both. A separate mention is anemia in smokers, since tobacco prevents the correct assimilation of vitamin C, which is essential for the absorption of iron. Yet another reason to quit smoking.
- Increase uric acid . When tissue destruction increases, uric acid in the blood rises. High values are produced after periods of very intense training in a very continuous way without the corresponding rest (the well-known muscle catabolism) or when protein is ingested in excess. I have two nursing cousins who work in the emergency room, and they tell me that the number of young people who come with kidney or / or liver overload is increasing, due to the abuse of proteins , mainly from protein shakes.
- Increase in blood glucose . The values tend to rise with a sedentary lifestyle and diets high in sugars. High cholesterol, being overweight, and the appearance of type II diabetes are some of the most obvious risks when presenting excessive values. Cardiovascular exercise together with a diet with high glycemic carbohydrates tends to lower levels in the medium and long term. Although it may be the case of presenting very low values, in endurance sports, where blood glucose levels tend to decrease due to depletion of liver glycogen reserves
- The values of the transaminase enzymes GOT and GPT increase. These enzymes are related to transamination (transformation of amino acids to glucose by muscle catabolism) When exercise is very intense, and we do not meet the needs with our diet, very high values will appear (the body will degrade muscle mass to use amino acids in obtaining energy (it is a frequent case in marathon runners).
- Increases the value of triglycerides . This occurs when carbohydrate intake is excessive. Triglycerides are the main type of fat transported by the body to use as energy fuel. High values are also given in cases of overweight and excesses with alcohol.
- Increases bad cholesterol (LDL) . This case is associated with a diet with excess saturated fat.
- Increased urea in the blood . This is related to a greater consumption of protein by our muscles to recover from training. This happens mainly in endurance sports.
Sources : Verkoshansky, Lyle Mcdonald, Baechle & Warle, Janssen, Jorge Ortega.
