25 health risks and monitoring tools

Lesson Overview Health Risks of Bodybuilding and PED usage Lab Work Monitoring Cardiovascular Work up Blood Pressure Monitoring Glucose Monitoring... Natural or Enhanced carrying large b

Health Risks and Monitoring Tools

UNIVERSITY

Lesson Overview

Health Risks of Bodybuilding and PED usage Lab Work Monitoring

Cardiovascular Work up

Blood Pressure Monitoring

Glucose Monitoring

Bodybuilding and Health

This has become an oxymoron in modern body buildng, but we must keep health in the forefront along with our goals

Natural or Enhanced carrying large body weights for years increases health risks

Large bodies put more strain on all body systems, especially the cardiovascular system In recent years many large bodybuilders have passed away form Myocardial Infarctions

Its not down to only body weight but also what we use to push up bodyweight; excess food and excess PEDs

Health Risk of Body Building and PED usage

Lipid alterations

Enlarged Heart

Cardiac Damage

Hypertension

Blood Clots and Polycythemia

Elevated Homocysteine

Decreased Immune Function

Kidney Failure and water retention

Liver toxicity

Insulin Resistance

Acne and Hair loss

Tendon Injury

Loss of Menses and virilization (females)

Monitoring and Intervention

Awareness is key to prevention of future health issues

If you want to be great bodybuilder you need to be able to do this for the long term

Monitoring Tools:

Lab work

Chest CT Calcium Score

Echocardiogram

Blood Pressure Self Monitoring

Blood Glucose Self Monitoring

Lab Work

Natural Athletes every 6 months (peak offseason, post show)

Enhanced Athletes every 3 months (prior to prep, post prep, pre blast phases, post blast phases)

Obtain via Primary Care Doctor or Online Lab Services

Preparation:

8-10 hour fast prior

No exercise 48 hour prior to testing

Get hydrated, 40-60oz fluid prior to test

Lab Work to Assess

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

(electrolytes, BUN, creatinine, Glucose, albumin, total protein and bilirubin, ALT, AST, ALP, Calcium)

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

(hemoglobin, RBC, Hematocrit, WBC and differential, Platelet Count)

Lipid Profile:

(LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, Triglycerides)

Thyroid Panel: TSH, FT4, FT3, Reverse T3

Hormone Panel:

Testosterone total, Estradiol, SHBG Female: DHEA-S, Progesterone

Additional Add on:

Serum 25 OH Vitamin D

Fasting Serum Insulin

Hemoglobin A1C

C-Reactive Protein

GGT

Cystatin-C

Prostate Specific Antigen

Cardiovascular Testing

Cardiac CT Calcium Score

X ray of chest to determine level of calcified plaque in coronary arteries

Calcium score is generated and is prognostic tool for cardiovascular event risk

Benefit: convenient and noninvasive evaluation of heart attack risk Young individuals might still be at risk even with a low calcium score

Echocardiogram

Ultrasound to map shape and function of heart

Can check cardiac size, wall thickness, pumping ability, proper valve function

Noninvasive

Blood Pressure Self Monitoring

High blood pressure is a silent killer for bodybuilders

High body weights and increased PED usage drive up blood pressure

Increased risk of Heart attack/stoke, heart failure, kidney failure

Normal Blood Pressure: below 120/80mmHg

Elevated Blood Pressure: systolic 120 to 129mmHg, diastolic

<80mmHg

Stage 1 Hypertension: systolic 130-139 mmHg, diastolic 80-89 mmHg Stage 2 Hypertension: systolic >140mmHg, diastolic >90mmHg

Monitor every other week

LifeSource Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor with Extra Large Cuff

Blood Glucose Self Monitoring

Natural athletes monitor glucose and A1c on lab work 1-2 per year

Might be useful if suspect of adrenal issues

Enhanced athletes using HGH and insulin need to monitor weekly

Chronically elevated blood glucose can lead to insulin resistance and Diabetes

Blood glucose trending upward leads to inflammation, poor gut health and nutrient uptake, increased visceral fat gain, poor nutrient

partitioning

Fasting Blood Glucose

Taken first thing AM after 20-30oz water, ensure good sleep prior Normal: 70-99mg/dl

Diabetes: >126mg/dl

Optimal: <90mg/dl

Glucometer and testing strips available at any pharmacy

Summary

To become excellent at bodybuilding we must stay healthy for the long haul

Lab work can give early insight into disease risk and monitoring of

disease progression

We can use more advanced cardiovascular monitor such as ECG and CT scans for more comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment

Monitoring blood pressure and blood glucose at home is easy and gives early insight into heart and metabolic issues

Next, we dive into interpreting the data and what to do with it

Resources

Llewellyn W Anabolics Jupiter, FL: Molecular Nutrition LLC; 2017 Mastenbjork M., Meloni S Lab Values 2nd edition David Anderson;

2018