What Does Cardiovascular Fitness Mean?

Cardiovascular fitness is a popular buzz word, but many people find themselves asking, "What does cardiovascular fitness mean?"

It's easy to understand the confusion. Clearly there must be some middle ground between a couch potato and a triathlete. But where exactly can you draw the line?

The cardiovascular system is how the body gets its oxygen, something that it needs to live. It includes the lungs, heart, and veins that deliver the oxygen to the muscles. The greater your level of cardiovascular fitness, the easier it is for your body to get oxygen.

There's no distinct line that means that one person has achieved cardiovascular fitness while another has not. You can probably tell yourself based on how you feel when you do certain activities. Do you get out of breath when climbing up a flight of stairs? Is it difficult for you to take a brisk walk down the street? If so, then you need to work on improving your cardiovascular fitness. If not, you can still work on improving or maintaining your fitness level.

You improve your cardiovascular fitness level through aerobic exercise. These are the types of exercises that raise your heartbeat and get your blood pumping. You might consider walking, dancing, jogging, swimming, or biking. Basically, you should try to choose an activity that you enjoy doing because this means you'll be more likely to stick with it.

When exercising, you want to try to get your heart rate up to 60-80% of your maximum heart rate. You can figure out your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from the number 220. A 30 year old, for example, would have a maximum heart rate of 190. When you exercise at the 60-80% range, you know that your heart is getting a good workout too.

When you improve your cardiovascular fitness level, you'll see a marked improvement in the way your body operates. You'll have more energy and be able to do more things without being tired. Many people also find that they simply feel better about themselves in general. They have a more positive outlook on life. Furthermore, your body is healthier, which may help you to live longer.

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