Cardiovascular exercise, also known as aerobic exercise, is any form of physical activity that increases your heart rate and breathing rate, and engages the large muscle groups in your body for an extended period of time. This type of exercise has been proven to have a wide range of benefits for overall health and wellbeing, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases, improving aerobic fitness and endurance, boosting mood, and promoting better sleep.
But what exactly happens in the body when we engage in cardiovascular exercise? How does it lead to all these positive outcomes? Here, we’ll explore the science behind cardiovascular exercise so you can better understand why it’s such an important part of a healthy lifestyle.
Cardiovascular exercise and the heart
One of the key benefits of cardiovascular exercise is that it strengthens the heart muscle, which is responsible for pumping blood and oxygen to the rest of the body. During aerobic exercise, the heart has to work harder to supply oxygen to the muscles, and this eventually leads to an increase in the size and strength of the heart muscle, making it more efficient at pumping blood.
As you engage in cardiovascular exercise, your heart rate increases, allowing more blood to circulate through your body. This increased blood flow is important because it helps to deliver more oxygen and nutrients to the cells and tissues, and it also helps to remove waste products like carbon dioxide from the body.
Cardiovascular exercise and the lungs
Your lungs also play a crucial role in cardiovascular exercise, as they are responsible for taking in oxygen and getting rid of carbon dioxide. During aerobic exercise, the breathing rate increases, which helps to bring more air into the lungs and get oxygen to the muscle cells.
As you continue to exercise, your body also produces more carbon dioxide, which needs to be removed from the body. To do this, the lungs increase their ventilation rate, allowing you to breathe out more carbon dioxide.
Cardiovascular exercise and metabolism
The term “metabolism” refers to the chemical processes that occur within the body to convert food into energy. Engaging in cardiovascular exercise has been shown to increase metabolism, which can help to promote weight loss and improve overall fitness levels.
During aerobic exercise, the muscle cells require a lot of energy to keep working, so they begin to break down stored carbohydrates and fats to produce more energy. As a result, the body’s metabolism increases to help support this demand for energy.
Cardiovascular exercise and mental health
In addition to the physical benefits, cardiovascular exercise has also been shown to have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. It is thought that exercise can help to activate the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain, such as endorphins, which can help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
Regular exercise has also been shown to promote better sleep, which can have a significant impact on mental health. When we engage in physical activity, our body temperature increases, and as we cool down after exercise, this can help to promote feelings of relaxation and drowsiness, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night.
In conclusion, there are many factors that contribute to the positive benefits of cardiovascular exercise. By engaging in regular aerobic activity, you can improve heart health, increase endurance, boost metabolism, and improve mental wellbeing. The next time you head out for a run or hit the gym for a cardio workout, remember all the amazing things that are happening in your body to help you feel and perform better.
