Cardiovascular Fitness
CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS
Cardiovascular fitness is frequently considered the most important aspect of physical fitness because those who possess it are likely to have a lessened risk of coronary heart disease – the number one killer in our society. Cardiovascular fitness is also referred to as cardiovascular endurance, cardio-respiratory capacity and circulatory fitness. Regardless of the word used to describe it, cardiovascular fitness is complex because it requires fitness of several body systems.
Physical activity that leads to improved cardiovascular fitness has dramatic health and wellness benefits that extend well beyond heart disease risk reduction. It is important to the effective performance of virtually all types work and play activities.
TERMS
Aerobic Exercise – Exercise for which the body is able to supply adequate oxygen to sustain performance for long periods of time
Anaerobic Exercise – Exercise that requires the use of the body’s high energy fuel. This type of exercise is of short duration and does not depend on the body’s ability to supply oxygen.
Hemoglobin – Oxygen carrying pigment of the red blood cells.
Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO2 Max) – a laboratory measure of fitness commonly held to the best measure of cardiovascular fitness.
GOOD CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS REQUIRES A FIT HEART
The heart is a muscle: to become stronger, it must be exercised like any other muscle in the body. If the heart is exercised regularly, its strength increases; if not, it becomes weaker. Contrary to belief that strenuous work harms the heart, research has found no evidence that regular, progressive exercise is bad for the normal heart. In fact, the heart muscle will increase in size and power when called upon to extend itself. The increase in size and power allows the heart to pump a greater volume of blood with fewer strokes per minute.
GOOD CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS REQUIRES A FIT VASCULAR SYSTEM
Blood flows through a sequence of arteries to
Cardiovascular fitness is frequently considered the most important aspect of physical fitness because those who possess it are likely to have a lessened risk of coronary heart disease – the number one killer in our society. Cardiovascular fitness is also referred to as cardiovascular endurance, cardio-respiratory capacity and circulatory fitness. Regardless of the word used to describe it, cardiovascular fitness is complex because it requires fitness of several body systems.
Physical activity that leads to improved cardiovascular fitness has dramatic health and wellness benefits that extend well beyond heart disease risk reduction. It is important to the effective performance of virtually all types work and play activities.
TERMS
Aerobic Exercise – Exercise for which the body is able to supply adequate oxygen to sustain performance for long periods of time
Anaerobic Exercise – Exercise that requires the use of the body’s high energy fuel. This type of exercise is of short duration and does not depend on the body’s ability to supply oxygen.
Hemoglobin – Oxygen carrying pigment of the red blood cells.
Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO2 Max) – a laboratory measure of fitness commonly held to the best measure of cardiovascular fitness.
GOOD CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS REQUIRES A FIT HEART
The heart is a muscle: to become stronger, it must be exercised like any other muscle in the body. If the heart is exercised regularly, its strength increases; if not, it becomes weaker. Contrary to belief that strenuous work harms the heart, research has found no evidence that regular, progressive exercise is bad for the normal heart. In fact, the heart muscle will increase in size and power when called upon to extend itself. The increase in size and power allows the heart to pump a greater volume of blood with fewer strokes per minute.
GOOD CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS REQUIRES A FIT VASCULAR SYSTEM
Blood flows through a sequence of arteries to