If you would like to improve the functioning of your heart and lungs, you need to perform cardiorespiratory (heart-lung) exercises. Cardiorespiratory exercise is also referred to as aerobic exercise, which means “with oxygen.” Examples of aerobic exercise include walking, running, jogging, swimming, aerobics classes, and cycling. These types of exercises will strengthen the muscular part of your heart and lungs and will increase their working efficiency.
Cardiorespiratory fitness can be measured by assessing the heart’s ability to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body to the working muscles during exercise, as well as by the efficiency with which the muscles use oxygen to produce energy. The more aerobically fit a person is, the longer he or she can sustain aerobic exercise without becoming exhausted. For this reason, people who are aerobically fit tend to have lower resting heart rates and recover from exercise more quickly than those who are less aerobically fit.
To understand the cardiovascular benefits of exercise, you need a thorough knowledge of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. That’s what we’ll provide in this unit.
When you complete this course study material, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the pulmonary circuit
- Explain how the heart works as two pumps
- Contrast and compare arteries, arterioles, veins, venules, and capillaries
- Determine your target heart rate and your heart rate range
- Describe the physical advantages of regular cardiorespiratory exercise
- Explain how blood pressure is affected by lifestyle
- Discuss factors that can contribute to heart and lung disease
- Identify information resources for developing and maintaining a healthy heart and lungs
