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A member asked:
Will having polycythemia make my son a better athlete?
5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
No: Polycythemia (increased red cells in the blood) will not make him a better athlete. Within limits, it increases the oxygen deliverable by blood and may improve endurance. Elite endurance athletes sometimes train in lower oxygen (e.g. At altitude) to induce a form of polycythemia. This is not advised for children. Polycythemia should be evaluated as it can be dangerous and signal serious disease.
Answered 7/20/2012
6.4k views
Not sure: It increase the risks of complications though, such as blood clots, stroke, headaches, spleen enlargement, sensitive itchy skin, stomach ulcers, joint inflammation, etc.
Answered 12/9/2013
5.4k views
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