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Why a Healthy Hemoglobin Level is Important for Cardio Fitness.
This complex protein in our blood plays a significant role in how we perform athletically. Here is why you should give importance to the hemoglobin level.
Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Oxygen is essential for the muscles to produce energy and perform physical activities. Therefore, having a normal hemoglobin level is very important for cardio fitness.
According to medical science, normal levels of hemoglobin for males and females are as follows:
- Normal hemoglobin levels for men: 14.0–17.5 g/dL (average is 15.7 g/dL)
- Normal hemoglobin levels of women: 12.3–15.3 g/dL (average is 13.8 g/dL)
Having a low hemoglobin level (also known as anemia) can cause fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and reduced exercise tolerance. This can affect your cardiovascular fitness by limiting your ability to perform aerobic exercises that require sustained oxygen delivery to the muscles.
On the other hand, having a high hemoglobin level (also known as polycythemia) can increase your blood viscosity and make it harder for your heart to pump blood around your body. This can also affect your cardiovascular fitness by increasing your risk of blood…
