Haemoglobin Level
Haemoglobin is a substance in the blood that binds to oxygen and transports it around the body. It is contained in the red blood cells in the body (see diagram at bottom of page). Red blood cells transport oxygen to every cell in the body. Each red blood cell contains about 250 million haemoglobin molecules. The main function of haemoglobin is to absorb oxygen at the lungs and carry this oxygen to the working muscles and organs via the blood stream. Haemoglobin absorbs oxygen at a very fast rate and this leads to an efficient oxygen transportation system within the body. Women tend to have slightly lower levels of haemoglobin than males and this results in lower VO2 max readings for women. Haemoglobin levels increase as a result of training. General endurance training programs can increase haemoglobin levels as much as 20 percent. When beginning training, oxygen is removed from the cells and the body responds by producing more red blood cells and haemoglobin, allowing more oxygen to be delivered to the cells.
Over the years athletes and sports scientists have explored many ways of improving haemoglobin levels, particularly for endurance athletes. Legal methods such as high iron diets, altitude training and targeted training have proven to be quite successful. Other methods such as blood doping, blood transfusions and drugs such as EPO have put athlete's health and wellbeing at risk and have been made illegal.
Altitude training involves athletes training at higher altitudes than they are accustomed to, as there is a lower amount of oxygen in the air the greater the distance is from sea level. This causes the body to produce more haemoglobin so the body can absorb oxygen more effectively. Similar effects have also been seen by athletes who use tents that limit the supply of oxygen.
Over the years athletes and sports scientists have explored many ways of improving haemoglobin levels, particularly for endurance athletes. Legal methods such as high iron diets, altitude training and targeted training have proven to be quite successful. Other methods such as blood doping, blood transfusions and drugs such as EPO have put athlete's health and wellbeing at risk and have been made illegal.
Altitude training involves athletes training at higher altitudes than they are accustomed to, as there is a lower amount of oxygen in the air the greater the distance is from sea level. This causes the body to produce more haemoglobin so the body can absorb oxygen more effectively. Similar effects have also been seen by athletes who use tents that limit the supply of oxygen.