🏆 Big Idea: EPO boosts the oxygen-carrying capacity of our blood. This seems like a golden ticket for athletes, but let's dive deeper.

• EPO's main action? ⬆️ Oxygen transport capacity of blood.
• Regular EPO injections for 4–14 weeks = more hemoglobin in the blood.
  • Real-world example: Think of hemoglobin as trucks. The more trucks (hemoglobin) we have, the more goods (oxygen) they can transport.

EPO's dual magic trick

Increase in red blood cell count.

Decrease in plasma volume (the watery part of blood).

• Makes the red cell percentage higher.
• Example: It's like adding more strawberries (red blood cells) to a smoothie and less liquid, making it thicker and richer!

📊 Fun Fact: EPO can boost our VO2max (our max oxygen consumption rate) by 8-12%. It's like giving your car's engine a significant upgrade!