I am sure you have all, at one time or another, given your arm to the doctor and submitted to the drawing of blood in order to gain an insight into your overall health. Analyzing the various components of your blood can give a very accurate picture of your state of health and can also greatly assist the process of determining and correcting the cause of any malaise.

However, if you have been confronted with a copy of your evaluation you may be somewhat confused by the data set out before you. In this article I hope to simplify the information presented in a standard blood panel and, in so doing, assist you in understanding each reading and what it means in terms of your well being. This way, the next time you receive a copy of your blood work you will have a better idea of what each section is about.

Let’s start with the general blood count:

WBC (White Blood Cell)

White blood cells are also referred to as leucocytes. Any deviations from the given reference range can be indicative of infection and stress on the immune system.

Linked to White Blood Cells are Neutrophils. These are white blood cells that are only in the circulation for a short period of time. Their job is to kill bacteria that can lead to infection. There are several factors that can lead to their elevation, including bacterial infections, inflammatory or metabolic disorders and even stress can cause an increase in total Neutrophil count. If, on the other hand, the level falls on the low side of the reference range provided on your document, this could indicate the presence of a viral infection, a bacterial infection or perhaps a diet that is lacking in essential nutrients.

RBC (Red Blood Cell)

Also known as erythrocytes, the primary function of red blood cells is to transport oxygen (via their hemoglobin content) to the various tissues of the body. Unlike Neutrophils, red blood cells have a long life span – surviving in the peripheral blood circulation for approximately 120 days. When a decrease in these cells is noted a condition known as anemia can result. If the level of RBC falls on the high side of the given reference range there could be a danger of high blood pressure or stroke. Athletes who use androgens often experience elevated RBC’s and this can create significant health risks. Should your RBC be naturally on the high side then it is wise to consider modifying your diet and perhaps even donating blood to bring it back down to acceptable levels.

HEMOGLOBIN

Molecules of hemoglobin are found within each red blood cell. Hemoglobin serves as a carrier for oxygen and carbon dioxide transportation. If there is an increase in the level of hemoglobin present it can be an indicator of congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure or dehydration. Patients with severe burns may also exhibit high hemoglobin levels.

A low hemoglobin count can be an indication of the presence of anemia, kidney disease, severe hemorrhage or sickle cell anemia. If the level is significantly low the doctor may decide to carry out additional tests to determine the cause.

Linked to RBC count is Hematocrit. This is a measure of the total blood volume that is made up of red blood cells. An increase in hematocrit may be an indication of congenital heart disease, dehydration, diarrhea, burns etc. A decrease would indicate anemia, hyperthyroidism, cirrhosis, hemorrhage, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, pregnancy or malnutrition. Once again, a significant deviation from the reference range provided would mean that further tests would have to be carried out to determine the true cause.

MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume), MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin), MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration.

The MCV is the size and volume of the average red blood cell and is one of the three red blood cell indices, which are used in order to discover whether or not abnormalities exist. An increase in MCV can be caused when the red blood cells are abnormally small and this could indicate a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid. It could also point to liver disease. On the other hand, a decrease in MCV would indicate that the red blood cells are abnormally large and this is usually a factor observed in iron deficiency anemia.

MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin)

The MCH index is yet another measurement used to detect anemia and refers to the weight of hemoglobin present in the average red blood cell.

MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration)

The MCHC measures the amount of hemoglobin present in each red blood cell compared to its size. When a decrease is noted iron deficiency is usually the cause although it could also indicate toxic levels of lead in the system. On the other hand an increase in this reading is sometimes attributed to the use of androgens.

PLATELET COUNT

Essential when it comes to your body’s ability to form blood clots and stop bleeding, platelets are measured in order to assess the likelihood of specific disorders. A decrease in platelet count can indicate infection, anemia or even leukemia. An increase could be due to the presence of rheumatoid arthritis, iron deficiency anemia or a malignant disorder.

NEUTROPHILS

When an increase in Neutrophil levels is observed the causative factors are usually severe trauma, inflammatory or metabolic disorders, bacterial infections and even stress. If the number of Neutrophils is on the low side it can indicate a viral or bacterial infection. It can also be caused by a poor diet.

BASOPHILS

Unlike Neutrophils, Basophils do not increase in the presence of bacterial or viral infections and if an increase is noted it is usually caused by an allergic response or a parasitic infection.

LYMPHOCYTES AND MONOCYTES

Lymphocytes function to fight off bacterial and viral infections and can be divided into two different types of cells: T Cells and B Cells. T Cells are involved in immune reactions and B cells are involved in antibody production.

Monocytes are similar to Neutrophils in action, however they are produced more rapidly and remain in the system for a longer duration.

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)

BUN is a useful reference point when it comes to evaluating liver and kidney function. When protein is metabolized it produces an end product called urea. Urea is formed in the liver and removed from the bloodstream via the kidneys. If an increase in BUN levels is noted it can point to dehydration, excessive protein consumption, excessive protein catabolism, starvation, renal disease and heart malfunctions. On the other hand a decrease in BUN may indicate over hydration, malnutrition and impaired liver function.

CREATININE

Creatinine is a byproduct of creatine phosphate which is the chemical used during the contraction of skeletal muscle. When you ingest large amounts of beef and other meats containing significant amounts of creatine your creatinine levels will reflect this by displaying an increase. In addition to this, the more muscle mass you carry the higher your creatine levels will be. However, a significant elevation in Creatinine levels can be attributed to a urinary tract obstruction, acute tubular necrosis, reduced renal blood flow and acromegaly. Decreased levels can result from debilitation or a decrease in muscle mass connected with an existing medical condition.

BUN/CREATINE RATIO

When this ratio is high it can indicate dehydration, hypotension, gastrointestinal bleeding and, less frequently, a catabolic state. On the other hand, a low ratio could be caused by a low protein diet, liver disease or malnutrition. However, it is important to note that athletes following a high protein diet will usually display higher ratios and this would therefore not be a cause for concern.

ENDOCRINE FUNCTION-TESTOSTERONE

The Leydig cells in the testicles form about 95% of the circulating testosterone in a man’s body. Women also produce testosterone (though in significantly smaller amounts) and this is secreted by the ovaries and the adrenal glands). If testosterone levels in men are excessively low this is usually addressed by the administration of hormone replacement therapy. The occurrence of low testosterone in women is sometimes witnessed during peri-menopause and post menopause. If this condition (i.e. low testosterone) is significantly reducing a woman’s quality of life (e.g. low libido, fatigue, depression) a small amount of supplementary testosterone may be prescribed. The use of anabolic/androgenic drugs will obviously cause elevated testosterone readings in both sexes.

LUTEINIZING HORMONE (LH)

This is a glycoprotein secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and is responsible for triggering the Leydig cells to produce Testosterone. By measuring LH levels it can be determined whether a low testosterone reading is caused by the testicles not being responsive to LH or whether the fault lies with the pituitary gland not actually secreting enough LH. The hypothalamus could also be responsible as it secretes ‘Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone.

In cases where the testicles are observed as being non responsive to LH, substances such as clomiphene and HCG will offer little assistance. However, if the fault lies with pituitary gland and its failure to secrete enough LH improvement should be observed following drug therapy.

ESTRADIOL

Estradiol is the most potent of the estrogens and elevated levels can lead to water retention, fat gain. Gynecomastia and occasionally prostate enlargement and tumors. Since this is the primary estrogen involved in the suppression of testosterone and elevated level goes hand in hand with a hypogonadic state (low testosterone). Increased estradiol levels can also be indicative of testicular tumor, adrenal tumor, liver disease and hyperthyroidism. Due to its potential to create significant disruption it is important for men to pay attention to estradiol levels.

So there you have it, a look at some of the basic categories covered during a routine blood panel. By understanding these values you can now enter an educated and productive discussion with your physician next time you get your blood work done.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests). Relocating to New York in the late 1990s she focused her writing attention to crystal healing techniques and metaphysics – however, she still maintained a five day workout schedule during this time and gained her personal training certificate. Having also studied pharmacology in relation to sports performance, her writing began taking her in that direction until the present day which sees her embarking on a return to the magazine world, as well as extending her web-related work in the bodybuilding and fitness field. Leigh has been working out for close to thirty years so she is clearly a writer who ‘walks her talk.’ She can be contacted personally at zeal2heal@yahoo.com.

Equipoise is a derivative of testosterone, which exhibits strong anabolic and moderately androgenic properties. In common with all steroids, Equipoise increases red blood cell production, which in turn leads to increases in stamina due to an improvement in oxygen uptake. It is also known to increase vascularity, which makes it a favorite when it comes to contest preparation. However, the downside of its use in pre-contest situations is that it does tend to produce an increased appetite in a high percentage of users.

The good news is that Equipoise produces very little in the way of estrogen related side effects. In fact its actual rate of estrogen conversion is half that of the various testosterones. Of course some sensitive individuals may still experience estrogenic effects (or those using extremely high doses). In this case the addition of Nolvadex should be considered – with Arimadex being a stronger option.

Although it is not known as a rapid mass builder, Equipoise will produce slow but steady gains in strength and quality muscle. Due to this slow and steady result pattern, Equipoise is most commonly used for longer cycles of at least ten weeks. This would ensure solid muscle gains with very low water retention. Gains with Equipoise are also easily maintained following use since size increases are not due to water weight.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF EQUIPOISE

Equipoise is an extremely versatile drug and, as such, combines very well with other steroids. An example of a great mass building stack would be 300-400mg/week of Equipoise with 500mg of Sustanon or Testosterone Enthanate. For mass building purposes it can also be effectively stacked with Anadrol. This would result in significant gains in strength and mass without the additional side effects that would result from using the androgen alone.
In terms of its use as part of a cutting cycle, Equipoise combines very well with non-aromatizable steroids such as Trenbolone acetate or Winstrol. However, even the extremely low aromatization rate of these substances may be enough to confine usage to bulking cycles only.

As a side note, those who usually favor Deca Durabolin may want to give Equipoise a try since for most people it proves to be stronger as well as safer and less suppressive. I say ‘most people” because there are always going to be individuals who, due to their unique chemistry, may have a different experience with its use.

SIDE EFFECTS

Side effects from the use of Equipoise are pretty low when it is taken in normal (300-400mg/week) dosages and estrogenic side effects only occur in those who are very susceptible to estrogen. In terms of androgenic side effects, long term or high dose use can result in slight virilizing effects including acne and increased body hair growth. Also worth noting is that Equipoise is not the ideal choice for the drug tested athlete since it has the tendency to produce detectable metabolites in the urine months after use.

DOSAGE

The use of 300-400mg/week is normally recommended when it comes to Equipoise use. There have been reports of users ‘front-loading’ it to achieve greater results. This would involve the use of high doses of 600-800mg/week for two weeks and then lowering the dose to 300-400mg/week for the remaining 8-10 weeks.

Women usually find this drug to be fairly safe in terms of virilizing effects as long as dosages are kept at 50-150mg/week.

N.B. Equipoise and all other products mentioned in this profile can be found at www.maximedicine.com.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Relocating to New York in the late 1990s she focused her writing attention to crystal healing techniques and metaphysics – however, she still maintained a five day workout schedule during this time and gained her personal training certificate.

Having also studied pharmacology in relation to sports performance, her writing began taking her in that direction until the present day which sees her embarking on a return to the magazine world, as well as extending her web-related work in the bodybuilding and fitness field.

This is part of a continuing series provided exclusively by MuscleSport Mag giving information on a variety of performance-enhancing drugs for educational purposes. While it is apparent that people are going to use these substances regardless of the health and legal risks involved, quality information is necessary and learning as much about them as possible can only assist an adult making a decision either way.

Testosterone Cypionate is a testosterone which has undergone 17 beta-estrification. Due to the length of its ester (8 carbons) it is stored mostly in adipose (fat) tissue upon intra-muscular injection from where it is released at a slow and steady rate. It peaks at 24-48 hours and then exhibits a slow and steady release over the course of 12 days. Although the compound stays in your system for up to three weeks, most athletes choose to inject it on a weekly basis.

Testosterone itself is a highly anabolic and androgenic hormone (rating 100 on each index). Its primary mode of action is to increase nitrogen retention in the muscle. It is also known to increase levels of growth factor IGF-1 in both muscle tissue and in the liver.
In addition to this, testosterone increases the activity of ‘satellite cells’. These are cells which surround the muscle tissue and play an active role in repairing damaged muscle tissue and contribute to the growth of new muscle.

Other factors linked with testosterone administration include a reduction in catabolic glucocorticoid hormones and an increase in red blood cell production (which contributes to increased stamina and endurance as well as a better ‘muscle pump’ when working out. Recent research also points to testosterone being a possible protective agent in the war against heart disease as well as a positive contributor to the fat loss process.

SIDE EFFECTS

The downside of a long acting ester like Cypionate is that it can lead to more water retention (although this can be somewhat alleviated by ensuring adequate water consumption and keeping a check on your intake of carbohydrates). Testosterone is also metabolized in the body to the female hormone estrogen by the aromatize enzyme. This can result in gynecomastia (the growth of breast tissue in men) some fat gain, testicular shrinkage and an increase in blood pressure. Hair loss and possible swelling of the prostate are also potential side effects.

STACKING TIPS

Although using testosterone by itself is perfectly acceptable, it is often stacked with substances such as Deca Durabolin, Equipoise, Primobolan or oral compounds with a high anabolic index (e.g. Winstrol, Anavar). This is a good idea in terms of both muscle growth and collagen synthesis. Testosterone increases protein synthesis by about 50-60% but it also reduces collagen synthesis by 50%. Since collagen is the substance joints and ligaments are composed of you can see how important it is to the recipe for muscle growth and protection form injury.

FOR YOUR PROTECTION

Anti-estrogens are essential when undertaking a cycle of testosterone. After a cycle is completed testosterone levels are usually suppressed and levels of estradiol are usually high due to aromatization. The use of HCG, Nolvadex/Clomid is usually the prescribed after cycle therapy. HCG injections should be started during the final week of the cycle and continued for 3-4 weeks (usually 1500-3000 i.u. every 5-6 days). HCG acts as an alternative to LH (Luteinizing Hormone) and kick starts normal testosterone production. Then about two weeks after the final shot of testosterone Nolvadex/Clomid should be started. The normal dose being up to 40mg Nolvadex or 150mg Clomid every days for two weeks. This can be followed by two more weeks of either 20mg Nolvadex or 100mg Clomid following the discontinuance of HCG.

EFFECTIVE DOSAGE

The usually dosage for Testosterone Cypionate is anything from 400 – 1000mg per week. Higher doses have been reported but, as always, increased dosages go hand in hand with increased side effects.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Leigh has been working out for close to thirty years so she is clearly a writer who ‘walks her talk.’
She can be contacted personally at zeal2heal@yahoo.com or you can also check her out at New York’s favorite metaphysical store www.stickstoneandbone.com.