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- Oct 6, 2007
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I'm creating this thread as a resource for the conscientious weightlifting enthusiast who uses AAS and ancillaries. John Meadows recent passing has rocked the bodybuilding world. I hope those with the proper knowledge will contribute to this thread. This will be a comprehensive resource for health issues we need to be aware of and the tests that are needed. There are volumes of information on this incredible forum but let's try to get it not only in one thread but one post! I'll take the information that's posted and add it to this first post so people don't have to search through multiple pages!!
It's unfortunate that the medical world is more reactive than proactive. You can go to 23andMe or Ancestry and get DNA testing done that shows genetic factors where one may be susceptible and all for a very cheap price considering what you get. Sadly the medical community, that I know of, isn't offering a cumulative testing package like this.
Ok, I'll start with a few and hopefully this list keeps growing!
Cardiovascular
- Blood Pressure - This is the simplest thing one can track and so many still don't. High BP causes Cardiomyopathy and is the #1 cause of Kidney Failure.
- Resting Heart Rate and Average Maximum Heart Rate - https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/target-heart-rates
- ECG/EKG - Records the electrical signals in your heart which can reveal an arrhythmia. https://www.heartrhythmalliance.org/aa/uk/types-of-arrhythmia
- Echocardiogram - This is an ultrasound of the heart that can reveal different types of heart disease and/or defects. This will also give you your Ejection Fraction. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/echocardiogram
- Calcium CT Score - This measures the plaque inside your arteries. $99 to $150 out of pocket! https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/heart-scan/about/pac-20384686
- VAP Panel - This is a Cardiovascular Risk Marker Panel. It's an in-depth look at your different lipoprotein, TG's, cholesterol, and other cardiovascular relevant lipid levels.
**broken link removed**
- CRP HS - C Reactive Protein High Sensitivity is a predictor in the risks of future heart attacks, stroke, arterial disease, or sudden cardiac death even when cholesterol levels are within normal ranges. https://healthresearchfunding.org/understanding-the-crp-hs-blood-test-results/
- BNP (B-Type Natriuretic Peptide) - BNP helps the body compensate for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/bnp-an-important-new-cardiac-test
Clotting Disorders
- Factor V Leiden - A genetic blood clotting disorder. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/factor-v-leiden/symptoms-causes/syc-20372423
- Prothrombin II Mutation - A genetic blood clotting disorder. https://www.stoptheclot.org/learn_more/prothrombin-g20210a-factor-ii-mutation/
- Polycythemia Vera - A blood cancer that begins in the marrow and causes it to make too many red blood cells. Polycythemia Vera is usually inherited and you can be genetically tested for Polycythemia Vera via its marker, the JAK2 (Janus-associated kinase 2) gene present in approx 95% of cases. You would likely only have this genetic test if other symptoms were present such as irregularly high RBC counts, above normal HCT, and enlarged spleen. Bone marrow can also be sampled for examination. Just because you test negative for JAK2, you may still have polycythemia.
Types and treatment:
Polycythemia Vera is a chronic cancer associated with inherently proliferative activity in bone marrow (95% along with JAK2 gene) causing elevated RBCs, HbG, white blood cell counts (specifically granulocytes) and also platelet counts. It is treatable but not curable.
Secondary Polycythemia: Unlike Polycythemia Vera, secondary polycythemia manifests for a specific reason such as increased erythrocytosis brought on by a specific condition such as hypoxia, sleep apnea, steroid abuse, etc. In other words, fix the underlying problem and erythrocytosis should return to normal. Once the underlying cause is treated, secondary polycythemia will usually resolve itself but often not before some type of tissue damage is done.
Nonspecific Secondary Polycythemia: Manifests for no identifiable reason whatsoever. It is treatable but for obvious reasons, not curable.
Supplements
This is for supplements that we use for acute issues and proactively for long term health!
- Curcumin - This has so many health benefits it's mind boggling. Type in any disease or disorder along with Curcumin and most often a study will pop up.
It's unfortunate that the medical world is more reactive than proactive. You can go to 23andMe or Ancestry and get DNA testing done that shows genetic factors where one may be susceptible and all for a very cheap price considering what you get. Sadly the medical community, that I know of, isn't offering a cumulative testing package like this.
Ok, I'll start with a few and hopefully this list keeps growing!
Cardiovascular
- Blood Pressure - This is the simplest thing one can track and so many still don't. High BP causes Cardiomyopathy and is the #1 cause of Kidney Failure.
- Resting Heart Rate and Average Maximum Heart Rate - https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/target-heart-rates
- ECG/EKG - Records the electrical signals in your heart which can reveal an arrhythmia. https://www.heartrhythmalliance.org/aa/uk/types-of-arrhythmia
- Echocardiogram - This is an ultrasound of the heart that can reveal different types of heart disease and/or defects. This will also give you your Ejection Fraction. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/echocardiogram
- Calcium CT Score - This measures the plaque inside your arteries. $99 to $150 out of pocket! https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/heart-scan/about/pac-20384686
- VAP Panel - This is a Cardiovascular Risk Marker Panel. It's an in-depth look at your different lipoprotein, TG's, cholesterol, and other cardiovascular relevant lipid levels.
Using the VAP lipid panel for the detection, evaluation, and treatment of patients “at risk” for CAD
In the past several decades, multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the effects of dyslipidemia beyond low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)…
www.sciencedirect.com
- CRP HS - C Reactive Protein High Sensitivity is a predictor in the risks of future heart attacks, stroke, arterial disease, or sudden cardiac death even when cholesterol levels are within normal ranges. https://healthresearchfunding.org/understanding-the-crp-hs-blood-test-results/
- BNP (B-Type Natriuretic Peptide) - BNP helps the body compensate for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/bnp-an-important-new-cardiac-test
Clotting Disorders
- Factor V Leiden - A genetic blood clotting disorder. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/factor-v-leiden/symptoms-causes/syc-20372423
- Prothrombin II Mutation - A genetic blood clotting disorder. https://www.stoptheclot.org/learn_more/prothrombin-g20210a-factor-ii-mutation/
- Polycythemia Vera - A blood cancer that begins in the marrow and causes it to make too many red blood cells. Polycythemia Vera is usually inherited and you can be genetically tested for Polycythemia Vera via its marker, the JAK2 (Janus-associated kinase 2) gene present in approx 95% of cases. You would likely only have this genetic test if other symptoms were present such as irregularly high RBC counts, above normal HCT, and enlarged spleen. Bone marrow can also be sampled for examination. Just because you test negative for JAK2, you may still have polycythemia.
Types and treatment:
Polycythemia Vera is a chronic cancer associated with inherently proliferative activity in bone marrow (95% along with JAK2 gene) causing elevated RBCs, HbG, white blood cell counts (specifically granulocytes) and also platelet counts. It is treatable but not curable.
Secondary Polycythemia: Unlike Polycythemia Vera, secondary polycythemia manifests for a specific reason such as increased erythrocytosis brought on by a specific condition such as hypoxia, sleep apnea, steroid abuse, etc. In other words, fix the underlying problem and erythrocytosis should return to normal. Once the underlying cause is treated, secondary polycythemia will usually resolve itself but often not before some type of tissue damage is done.
Nonspecific Secondary Polycythemia: Manifests for no identifiable reason whatsoever. It is treatable but for obvious reasons, not curable.
Supplements
This is for supplements that we use for acute issues and proactively for long term health!
- Curcumin - This has so many health benefits it's mind boggling. Type in any disease or disorder along with Curcumin and most often a study will pop up.
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