Aerobic fitness and Cardiovascular System
Aerobic Fitness and Cardiovascular System
The efficiency with which the cardiovascular system functions to meet the oxygen needs of cells throughout the body, particularly under the increased pressure of intense physical activity or exercise. The higher a person’s aerobic FITNESS LEVEL, the more air the LUNGS can take in each breath, the more oxygen that enters the BLOOD, and the more blood the HEART can eject with each contraction. The outcome is that the cardiovascular system can deliver higher concentrations of oxygen to body tissues with less effort, which increases ENDURANCE. Aerobic fitness is a key measure of cardiovascular health.
| ACTIVITIES THAT IMPROVE AEROBIC FITNESS | ||
|---|---|---|
| aerobic dance | basketball | bicycling |
| canoeing | cross-country skiing | handball |
| hiking | ice skating | jogging |
| kayaking | racquetball | roller skating |
| rowing | running | shooting hoops |
| snowshoeing | soccer | spinning |
| squash | stair climbing | stationary cycling |
| step aerobics | swimming | tennis |
| treadmill | volleyball | walking |
Physical activities that exercise the muscles to a level that increases the HEART RATE and BREATHING rate for a sustained time of 15 minutes or longer provide an aerobic workout for the body that strengthens cardiovascular efficiency and improves aerobic fitness. Consistency is the key to aerobic fitness. Health experts recommend aerobic activity three to four times a week, ideally in sessions that are 30 to 45 minutes long. The higher a person’s aerobic fitness level, the easier it is to sustain aerobic activity for longer periods of time.
See also AEROBIC CAPACITY; AEROBIC EXERCISE; AGING, CARDIOVASCULAR CHANGES THAT OCCUR WITH; CONDITIONING; EXERCISE AND HEALTH; LIFESTYLE AND HEALTH; MUSCLE; PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RECOMMENDATIONS; PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH; WALKING FOR FITNESS.
