What Is the Effect of Long-Term Athletic Training on the Body's RBC Count?

Training for athletics and exercising has been proven time and time again to have a positive impact on your health. However, over-training, or long-term high-intensity training, can do the opposite and result in diminished health.

  1. Endurance Athletics

    • Training at a high intensity for extended periods of time leads to a decrease in your red blood cell volume. Although scientists are not exactly certain as to why there are lower levels of red blood cells in your body, it is theorized that the high-intensity long-term training ages the red blood cells quicker, thus resulting in earlier cell death and a decrease in red blood cell volume.

    Sports Anemia

    • When an athlete experiences a drop in red blood cell count due to his exercise regimen, he places himself at risk of developing anemia, termed "sports anemia" when the syndrome is a result of athletics. Red blood cells transport the oxygen necessary for performance to the muscle cells. When there is a low red blood cell count, the muscles get a reduced amount of oxygen, which results in feelings of fatigue and decreased athletic performance.

    Female Athlete Risk

    • Female athletes have a higher risk of developing decreased red blood cell count due to prolonged training. Menstrual cycles are the reason that female athletes have an increased risk. Because the menstrual cycle reduces iron levels in the body and prolonged athletic training also reduces iron levels and red blood cell count, female athletes are more likely than male athletes to develop low red blood cell related issues.