exercise physiology

Cardiovascular training

Cardiovascular training is basically a form of exercise that enhances and maintains the efficiency of the lungs , heart , and the vascular system , in general , in transporting oxygen to muscle tissues (Pfitzinger , 2004 . However , aside from promoting good oxygen delivery to the muscles , cardiovascular training also has other physiological effects

One the most important effects of cardiovascular training is an increase in the body 's capillaries which surround the muscle fibers (Pfitzinger , 2004 . Basically , the capillaries play an important role in maintaining the healthy status of the body 's muscle fibers

. They act as the muscle fiber 's transport system as they bring in oxygen and other fuels excrete waste products such as carbon dioxide (Pfitzinger 2004

In addition , cardiovascular training also improves the ability of the muscle fibers ' mitochondria to use oxygen in generating energy aerobically (Pfitzinger , 2004 . Generally , the mitochondria are essential to the body as they are one of the main suppliers of energy to the cell . Basically , cardiovascular exercise increases the size and the number of the mitochondria in the muscle fibers and also enhances their efficiency to produce energy aerobically by boosting the activity of certain aerobic enzymes (Pfitzinger , 2004

Moreover , cardiovascular training can also be divided into two categories : aerobic and anaerobic . Aerobic cardiovascular training or aerobic exercise is basically an exercise or a series of exercises where fuel or energy is burned with oxygen while anaerobic cardiovascular training or anaerobic exercise burns energy without oxygen (Fitness Revolution , 2007 . These two types of cardiovascular training basically have their respective benefits to the body

Basically , the benefits of aerobic exercise , such as marathon running include weight reduction , the enhancement of the flow of air in and out of the lungs , strengthening of the heart muscle , increase in the number of red blood cells in the body , reduction of blood pressure , and the improvement of the body 's circulation , among others (The Cleveland Clinic Health Information Center , 2007 . On the other hand , the benefits of anaerobic exercise , such as sprinting and weight lifting , include improvement in body endurance , improvement muscle mass , increase in muscle tone and increase in over-all metabolism , among others (Weight Awareness , 2008

Furthermore , aside from physiological benefits , cardiovascular exercise also helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases . Since cardiovascular exercises generally promotes good body circulation increases over-all metabolism , and reduces weight , it helps prevent diseases such as atherosclerosis , high blood pressure , and high cholesterol , which are all related to a person 's diet and exercise (Russel , 2006 . In other words , through engaging in cardiovascular exercises , the blood sugar is significantly regulated , more calories are burned , and weight is greatly reduced

In addition , cardiovascular exercises also helps excrete toxins that can make a person feel better . Moreover , the cardiovascular exercises have also been proven to prevent other symptoms such as depression and anxiety

In short , cardiovascular exercises do not only help a person to become physically fit and less prone to cardiovascular disease , but it also makes him or her look and feel...