If we're talking just about PEDs, almost all AAS dramatically increase red blood cell production (secondary erythrocytosis). We can consider the performance enhancement of these drugs transporting and greatly improving nutrients and oxygen to your body's cells, along with the changes to the cell receptors and the high-affinity agonists themselves. When we consider living in this state for long periods of time, it's not difficult to see the negative repercussions all this may have on our health. High HCT, Hbg, and RBC's are a given.
All the problems associated with long-term use of PEDs like hypertension, high HCT, wrecked lipids, cardiopulmonary problems, hormonal imbalances, all of these, common side-effects directly related to the massive influx of RBC's, erythrocytes, hormone analogs, etc. We can deduce right now that HEAVY HYDRATION at all times is perhaps one of the most vital aspects of our overall health.
Hydration alone will unlikely solve the problem entirely but it's still the best remedy to start.
Additionally, lack of proper hydration can lead to greater blood viscosity (thicknes) and cause problems pushing the thick blood through the circulatory system and also reduce endurance, strain kidneys, heart and organ failure, higher clotting factor, just to name a few. Disastrous to growth. Your blood needs a healthy amount of plasma. The point is simple. The longer you stay in a state of high blood viscosity (thick blood) the greater chance of adverse health effects. Stay hydrated. High blood viscosity is a good predictor of future organ failure.
Like water and protein, cardiovascular exercise should also be considered very seriously by every BBer because when you're properly hydrated, the RIGHT AMOUNT OF CARDIO increases lung capacity and improves the overall health of the circulatory system; the entire cardiopulmonary system itself and the release of endorphins that improve your state of well-being. In regards to cardio, 1) too much can cut into your gains and recovery as well as cause hypertrophy of the heart muscle itself and 2) too little can reduce endurance, increase chance of clotting, higher resting heart rate, etc.
As most of you have already discovered, replacing iron or correcting an iron deficiency takes time. There is no way to speed up this process. Here lies the crux. If you thin out the blood through phlebotomy, you lose the the iron-rich hemoglobin and myoglobin needed to gain size and recover quickly. Even if you were able to keep your HCT low while maintaining a healthy level of iron in your hemoglobin and myoglobin, you lose part of the enhancement that AAS provide (to say nothing of the general health problems).
PHLEBOTOMY SHOULD NOT BE USED TO REDUCE OVERALL MASS IN YOUR BLOOD
Only under the close supervision of a hematologist should this be done.
The self-medicating BBer logic becomes, "I need get rid of these RBC's and offload blood and lower my blood pressure". But this is not a solution because of the danger of losing components that are not readily replaceable by your body. There are medications like Fergon (ferrous gluconate, as one example) that can increase iron in Hbg but too much iron (hemochromatosis) is also dangerous and leads to liver disease, inflammation, autoimmune disorders, heart conditions, fun stuff..
You do not need to be a hematologist to understand the thin ice you're walking on while blood-letting to lower BP or HCT. As I've already said, I have to do it due to my condition. But keeping everything in exactly the right balance has not been an easy journey. I often neglect to give blood, I can be forgetful of my blood pressure medications, I can neglect to eat iron rich foods.
I can't see any reason why anyone would do this on purpose.
*Note: All of this doesn't have to prevent you from generously donating badly needed blood. If you are a healthy individual you can donate blood, platelets, or RBC's occasionally if you meet the criteria without worry. (those questions can be answered for you individually by your doctor, lab annex, or the American Red Cross)
This has turned out to be quite a good thread.
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