Cardiovascular conditioning makes you healthier. It improves circulation and strengthens the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. The heart is a muscle that needs regular conditioning. A well-conditioned heart can pump a large amount of blood with fewer beats than a weak heart. Exercise conditions your heart to become more efficient as well as more resistant to stress, heart attack, and other health problems.
Lack of exercise can lead to changes in the body that threaten the heart. If you combine lack of exercise with overeating, you gain excess weight and your cholesterol may rise. Inactivity allows the heart to get out of shape and can cause heart disease and circulation problems.
The National Heart Foundation advises doing 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise at least 4 to 6 times a week. As a result, the body and heart become more fit, blood pressure may be reduced, fat may be lost, and other health benefits may be gained. Good aerobic activities are walking, hiking, jogging, bicycling, aerobics, and swimming.
Aerobic exercise uses large muscle groups for a continuous period of time. The muscles need more oxygen to handle this workload. This requires the heart to beat faster. Breathing gets heavier and faster to meet the demand for more oxygen.
In order for your heart and lungs to benefit from your workout, you must exercise within the aerobic heart-rate range. There is an easy test to see if you are in that range. If you can breathe and speak without gasping, you are probably exercising in your aerobic range. If you cannot talk comfortably to a companion while you are exercising, you should slow your pace.
Get a medical checkup before starting any exercise program. If possible, beginners should work with a exercise instructor to be sure of getting a proper workout program for their health needs.
Article #7417
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