Lance Armstrong Confesses to Performance Enhancing Drugs: What is Erythropoietin (EPO) Blood Doping? In 2013 Lance Armstrong, the winner of the cycling competition Le Tour de France for seven consecutive years confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs during his career. A synthetic version of the natural hormone erythropoietin, EPO is an extremely effective drug that is widely prescribed by the medical community to treat several health conditions and diseases. It is also one of the most popular but banned performance enhancing drugs. Its illegal use is especially widespread in the endurance sports community, most notably in professional cycling. EPO artificially increases endurance and stamina by stimulating red blood cell production, sidestepping the body's regulatory mechanisms. Natural EPO production is stimulated by the kidneys when low oxygen levels are detected. Nevertheless, the body tightly controls how much erythropoietin is produced in the kidneys, keeping the portion of blood made up by red blood cells at about 40 to 45 percent. This only varies for people living at different altitudes. Performance enhancing drugs like the synthetic EPO can cause a condition called polycythaemia. Polycythaemia is a disease which causes a higher proportion of cells when compared to the watery plasma causes the blood to be thicker and move slower, leading to clots. Blood clots can be life-threatening, as they can cause strokes and heart attacks, among other conditions. (Extract taken and adapted from Bleacher Report, 2013) a. Briefly explain how a red blood cell is adapted to carry out its function. b. Give a biological explanation for using a synthetic version of the natural hormone erythropoietin (EPO) to increase endurance and stamina. c. Briefly explain how red blood cell count varies in people living at higher altitudes. d. List and explain ONE function of blood other than transportation.
Lance Armstrong Confesses to Performance Enhancing Drugs: What is Erythropoietin (EPO) Blood Doping? In 2013 Lance Armstrong, the winner of the cycling competition Le Tour de France for seven consecutive years confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs during his career. A synthetic version of the natural hormone erythropoietin, EPO is an extremely effective drug that is widely prescribed by the medical community to treat several health conditions and diseases. It is also one of the most popular but banned performance enhancing drugs. Its illegal use is especially widespread in the endurance sports community, most notably in professional cycling. EPO artificially increases endurance and stamina by stimulating red blood cell production, sidestepping the body's regulatory mechanisms. Natural EPO production is stimulated by the kidneys when low oxygen levels are detected. Nevertheless, the body tightly controls how much erythropoietin is produced in the kidneys, keeping the portion of blood made up by red blood cells at about 40 to 45 percent. This only varies for people living at different altitudes. Performance enhancing drugs like the synthetic EPO can cause a condition called polycythaemia. Polycythaemia is a disease which causes a higher proportion of cells when compared to the watery plasma causes the blood to be thicker and move slower, leading to clots. Blood clots can be life-threatening, as they can cause strokes and heart attacks, among other conditions. (Extract taken and adapted from Bleacher Report, 2013) a. Briefly explain how a red blood cell is adapted to carry out its function. b. Give a biological explanation for using a synthetic version of the natural hormone erythropoietin (EPO) to increase endurance and stamina. c. Briefly explain how red blood cell count varies in people living at higher altitudes. d. List and explain ONE function of blood other than transportation.
Understanding Health Insurance: A Guide to Billing and Reimbursement
14th Edition
ISBN:9781337679480
Author:GREEN
Publisher:GREEN
Chapter7: Cpt Coding
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 25R
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