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Q&A for: 6-Jan-06

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Ask Mike Your Fitness Question:

1209. Q: Is there any way to increase cardi respiratory endurance besides exercise?

A: Sorry, some sort of exercise is the only way. Professional atheletes sometimes resort to what is called 'blood doping' -- intravenous infusion of blood to increase red blood cell count thereby increasing the amount of oxygen that can be carried to the muscles. This is, of course, not very practical for a 'normal' person and/or illegal as well as dangerous. So you will just have to exercise. It is speculated that exercising in high-altitude (low oxygen) conditions will increase the exercise effect, but the extra gains may not last long when you return to normal conditions. In any case, exercise is required.