EPO: Higher risk of death

[BroDeal]

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/...thletes-dope-if-they-know-it-might-kill-them/

I am not sure if the higher chance of heart attacks means anything. Slightly more viscous blood might account for slightly higher heart attack risk. Tumor growth does not sound too wonderful, though.

 

[red_explosions]

Interesting stuff. Increased risk of heart attacks and strokes stands to reason. Wouldn't like to speculate how EPO might increase the risk of new tumours. Existing tumours should do well though, seeing that they need their own blood supply. More oxygen should suit them just fine.

 

[Kerbdog]

Whats crazy is the question asked repeatedly over a number of years to elite athletes regarding if they would take a drug that would guarantee a gold medal even though they knew it would cost them their lives in 5 years. Around 50 % said they would. Now that is very scary.

 

[BroDeal]

Whats crazy is the question asked repeatedly over a number of years to elite athletes regarding if they would take a drug that would guarantee a gold medal even though they knew it would cost them their lives in 5 years. Around 50 % said they would. Now that is very scary.

I would like to see the actual survey question. I doubt the results.

 

[Murray]

Study not Applicable to athletes

This study is interesting from a medical point of view, but really not applicable to athletes.

If you read the study in the NEJM (not the NYT article), you'll see that the median age in the study is 68 years old, have suffered diabetes for 15 years, have a body mass index of 30, and around 65% already have cardiovascular disease.

This study has no relevance to athletes using EPO to improve athletic performance and any risks they may have.

 

[fatandfast]

I would like to see the actual survey question. I doubt the results.

I agree. I wonder if it said your life would be shorter by @5 years at the end of lets say 80 year span. That may be a bargain for some people. Knowing great racers that have won some hard races (Pikes Peak, Mammoth) I think their lives will be shorter because they won,with or w/o drugs just because of the brutality of bike racing.

 

[Ripper]

This study has no relevance to athletes using EPO to improve athletic performance and any risks they may have.

I would say that it does not appear to have direct relevance. It does suggest that the risks are in many ways unknown, as EPO has effects that they do not fully understand, and therefore there could be a risk to atheletes.

 

[Ripper]

My favourite part is the reference to the Goldman Dilemma and asking the same question to regular folks.

Would athletes "take a drug that guaranteed them a gold medal but would also kill them within five years"? "More than half of the athletes said yes. When he repeated the survey biannually for the next decade, the results were always the same. About half of the athletes were quite ready to take the bargain."

Non-athletes? "Exactly 2 of the 250 people surveyed in Sydney, Australia, said that they would take a drug that would ensure both success and an early death." ... "elite athletes are different from the general population, especially on desire to win.”

 

[flicker]

Would athletes "take a drug that guaranteed them a gold medal but would also kill them within five years"? "More than half of the athletes said yes. When he repeated the survey biannually for the next decade, the results were always the same. About half of the athletes were quite ready to take the bargain."

I just did not know that Crack could help you win a Gold medal

 

[richwagmn]

This study is interesting from a medical point of view, but really not applicable to athletes.

If you read the study in the NEJM (not the NYT article), you'll see that the median age in the study is 68 years old, have suffered diabetes for 15 years, have a body mass index of 30, and around 65% already have cardiovascular disease.

This study has no relevance to athletes using EPO to improve athletic performance and any risks they may have.

Are there any diseases where people are on EPO long term?

 

[the truth.]

loved this interview- educated me on |EPO

http://www.bike-pure.org/dr_john_harty.html

 

[kelvedon wonder]

Are there any diseases where people are on EPO long term?

Yes - people with severe kidney disease. If I'm right, EPO is a replacement for erythropoetin, a hormone secreted by the kidney to generate the production of red blood cells (this is a bit of vague stuff from memory as my speciality is respiratory nursing). I've given the injections to people myself. It's unbelievably expensive stuff.

 

[Aus_Orca]

I would like to see the actual survey question. I doubt the results.

I disagree when you have worked your whole life to do nothing more than win that gold medal (or race etc.) i believe many, and it could easily be 50% would pass up 5 years of life for that dream..........an elite athlete can have one of the most selfish, narsacistic personalities around, which in many cases is required to rule the roost!

 

[BroDeal]

I disagree when you have worked your whole life to do nothing more than win that gold medal (or race etc.) i believe many, and it could easily be 50% would pass up 5 years of life for that dream..........an elite athlete can have one of the most selfish, narsacistic personalities around, which in many cases is required to rule the roost!

The question is not that they will pass up five years of life. It is that they will die within five years.