Athletic training can influence RBC count through adaptations like increased production. Polycythemia, linked to elevated RBC count, can be advantageous for athletes. Hematopoiesis in the bone marrow produces RBCs and WBCs, with EPO considered cheating in sports.
Long-term athletic training, such as running 4 to 5 miles per day over several months, can lead to adaptations in the body, including increased red blood cell (RBC) production. This process is a response to the demand for more oxygen during physical activity. However, in cases of excessive training, the production of RBCs may lag behind the increase in blood volume, causing a decrease in the percentage of RBCs.
Polycythemia, characterized by elevated RBC count, can occur transiently due to factors like dehydration or chronically in individuals living at high altitudes. This condition can also be induced in elite athletes training at high elevations, providing a competitive advantage due to increased oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
Hematopoiesis, the process of red and white blood cell production, mainly occurs in the bone marrow. White blood cells are crucial for the immune system, while red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body. Erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that stimulates RBC production, is considered cheating in sports as it artificially enhances oxygen delivery, providing an unfair advantage.
https://brainly.com/question/50597177