Most people are aware that exercise is beneficial for losing weight, but not many understand how exercise can benefit all of the body’s systems. From improved cardiovascular output to enhanced fertility, exercise programs can improve overall health and wellbeing. By learning how exercise affects the body, fitness participants will understand why exercise is so important for improving the body’s health state.
How the Cardiac System Responds to Exercise
The cardiac system contains the heart and blood vessels. As exercise increases demands for blood flow throughout the body, the heart must increase the rate at which it pumps. Many of the cells in the heart are also muscle cells, so by increasing the rate at which it pumps also exercises the heart. Normally the heart pumps at a rate of 70 to 100 beats per minute. When exercising, the heart rate can almost double, increasing blood supply to all areas of the body.
How the Respiratory System Responds to Exercise
Just as the heart has to work harder to pump blood, the lungs also increase activity to keep up with oxygen demands that exercise places on the body. When a body is at rest, approximately six liters of oxygen is exchanged each minute as we breathe. As the body increases the demand for oxygen, the lungs increase activity until about 100 liters of oxygen are exchanged each minute of intense exercise.
Another benefit of increased respiratory and cardiac action is the ability for these two systems to work together to decrease the overall temperature in the body. As the body starts to make heat as a result of consuming energy, increased breathing can give off some of that heat as part of respiration. Sweating is the most efficient way to decrease body heat, but increased respiration and blood flow also contribute to this process.
Exercise Increases Blood Return to the Heart
What comes as a surprise to many folks that are learning about the anatomy of the body is that our muscles are used to help pump blood back to the heart. As blood travels farther away from the heart, the vasculature, or vessels, starts to lose pressure. As muscles contract, they push on the veins of the circulatory system, increasing the power of the pressure inside to force blood back to the heart for recirculation. As exercise increases, so does blood return to the heart.
Learning about the anatomy and physiology of exercise can help explain why this process is so vital to improving our overall health. If starting a health program is in your future, start now by researching the different methods, equipment, and information available to improve your health. Several of the links located around this article can provide the information that you need to begin your research so be sure and check them out. As always, be sure and visit your healthcare provider when beginning any exercise program.
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