Exercise Strengthens The Heart

When you exercise, noticeable changes occur such as deep breathing, profuse sweating, and a heavy pounding in your chest. Other changes that may not be noticeable are higher metabolic rate and increased size of the capillaries. These variations are called immediate or acute effects of exercise. These temporary changes occur whether you have been exercising for weeks or months or you have just started an exercise program.

If you continue to exercise daily or weekly, other changes take place gradually. The changes occur as the body adapts to the exercise. They are called the chronic effects of exercise and occur when you exercise vigorously for approximately six weeks or more. Long-term exercise is called training.

Below is a summary of the incredible and chronic effects of exercise on the major systems of the body.

The Cardiovascular System. The cardiovascular system consists of the heart, arteries, veins, arterioles, and capillaries. The system's function is to supply blood to the various parts of the body. The blood, in turn, furnishes the tissues with food and oxygen necessary for energy; waste products are also removed by the blood. The heart is the pump that provides the force to circulate the blood throughout the body.

When you exercise, your heart rate increases. Along with the higher heart rate, there is also an increased contracting force of the heart which results in a greater amount of blood being expelled from the heart with each contraction (stroke volume). The increased stroke volume and heart rate result in an increase of blood flow to the muscles; consequently, more blood is pumped by the heart per minute.

Blood pressure is also affected during vigorous exercise. As the systolic pressure increases, more blood is forced into the capillary beds (a maze of capillaries). The diastolic blood pressure is affected in one of two ways. If you have a poor fitness level, your diastolic pressure will increase because of an increased resistance to the blood flow. But if you have a good fitness level, your diastolic blood pressure will drop, decreasing the resistance of blood flow.

Exercise also increases the flow of blood to the heart. Since the heart is a muscle with arteries, capillaries and veins, it needs an adequate supply of blood to keep it strong and healthy.

One of the greatest benefits of regular exercise is the consistent reduction in the resting heart beat. These lowered heart rate allows the heart a greater rest between beats. Our body needs rest to recover from physical stress and the same is true for our most important body organ--the heart.