question from a user
I had a doctor tell me that doing a bunch of cardio will eat up some of the oxygen in your blood. But it has this other effect where it just makes you produce more. Same thing with donating blood. He said your body just makes up for it. And this is legit from a clinic.
AlphaMD's Answer
Yes, both of these points are and can be true...in moderate levels, cardio can lower hematocrit. While at sustained high levels, cardio exercise can increase hematocrit. This happens because intense exercise can stimulate your body to produce more red blood cells, and it can also cause a temporary increase in hematocrit due to a decrease in plasma volume (the liquid part of your blood) if fluid replacement during exercise is insufficient. This is a great point, and also illustrates why it is always a great idea to work with an experienced clinician when initiating, balancing and terminating a treatment regimen. The body has a number of compensatory actions for adjustments in hormone levels including your hematocrit. TRT requires a multifactorial approach to care, which is why it is so important to have a strong care plan which will include a comprehensive assessment, labs and adjustments based upon your goals of care and your symptoms.
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