Cardiovascular exercise, also called cardiorespiratory exercise
and aerobic exercise, has been shown to have a number of health benefits
when performed on a regular basis. These benefits may be realized by
both those who are apparently healthy and those who suffer from various
health problems.
Cardiovascular fitness promotes the loss of body
fat and has been reported to actually decrease the appetite in many
individuals. However, even if it doesn't reduce appetite, the
calorie-burning effects of regular aerobic exercise can allow for
substantial caloric intake. Many endurance athletes regularly consume
between 3,000-5,000 calories per day and remain extremely lean.
Cardiovascular training, when combined with a sensible diet, will
definitely promote an increase in lean body tissue and a decrease in
body fat percentage.
The skeletal system can be strengthened by
weight-bearing activities such as fast walking and jogging. This can
not only assist in reducing the risk for developing osteoporosis, it can
also help to slow down the progress of the disease for those whose
doctors recommend exercise.
Aerobic exercise is often part of
treatment programs for diabetics whose blood sugar is well controlled.
This is due to the fact that aerobic training increases the sensitivity
of the cells to insulin so diabetics who exercise regularly require less
insulin to effectively regulate blood sugar levels. In addition,
studies have shown that persons with adult-onset diabetes have been able
to significantly reduce or eliminate medications other than insulin by
following a regular exercise program combined with a healthy diet.
Cardiovascular
exercise is often a major component of the therapy for those who have
suffered a heart attack and for those who are at high risk for coronary
artery disease. Three of the primary risk factors for developing
coronary artery disease are high blood pressure (hypertension), smoking
and high blood cholesterol. Cardiovascular exercise can play a
significant role in reducing risk associated with these three factors.
First
of all, many people with high blood pressure are also overweight.
Regular sessions of aerobic exercise will reduce body fat and lower
blood pressure. Secondly, many people who smoke find the incentive to
quit after embarking upon an aerobic exercise program. Thirdly,
regular, brisk, cardiovascular training leads to an increase in the
level of high density lipoprotein (HDL), also known as the "good"
cholesterol.
Those with arthritis can benefit from aerobic
exercise to help them maintain an ideal body weight. Therapy programs
for arthritis sufferers should also include appropriate exercises to
help maintain joint range of motion. This can be incorporated into an
overall exercise program that includes cardiovascular exercise.
Cardiovascular
exercise has also been shown to decrease clinical symptoms of anxiety,
tension and depression. Regular aerobic workouts increase blood flow
and assists the body in eliminating toxins which can make a person feel
better.
On a physiological level, cardiovascular fitness decreases
resting heart rate and increase heart volume. It increases maximum
oxygen consumption, capillary density and blood flow to active muscles.
It also increases total blood volume, allows for maximal ventilation
and increases lung diffusion capacity.
Cardiovascular training
serves as the foundation for other fitness programs. The conditioning
and health of the heart and blood vessels are the basis for safety and
performance in nearly all athletic endeavors.- Michael Russell
