Cardiovascular Training
Cardiovascular System
The cardiovascular system consists of the heart, blood, and blood vessels—which include arteries, capillaries, and veins—of the body. The cardiovascular system’s purpose is to circulate blood throughout the body. Your heart pumps blood through the body by using blood vessels, such as the arteries and capillaries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart. Capillaries are the tiny blood vessels that connect the smallest divisions of the arteries, called arterioles, and the smallest divisions of the veins, called venules. This blood carries oxygen and nutrients to body cells. The capillaries then drain used blood into veins, which return blood back to the heart to be re-circulated.
As you just learned, the heart pumps blood that carries oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. This process is extremely important for your health and well-being. View From the Heart from eMediaVASM to learn more about the function of the heart within the cardiovascular system. While you are watching the video clip, think about the following questions.
- How does the heart function?
- What is the importance of the cells receiving oxygen?
- What are capillaries and alveoli?
- What is the difference between vessels, arteries, and veins?
Cardiovascular Performance
The performance of your cardiovascular system is determined by measuring your resting heart rate and blood pressure. You can improve cardiovascular fitness through training, and you can reduce your risk for problems that can develop within the cardiovascular system. In this interactivity, learn how the cardiovascular system is monitored and explore the different problems that can develop as a result of a weak cardiovascular system. Click the player button to begin.
View a printable version of this interactivity.
How to Train Your Cardiovascular System
Cardiovascular training is physical conditioning that strengthens the heart and blood vessels. Aerobic exercises use large muscle groups, are rhythmic in nature, and can be maintained continuously over a sustained amount of time. Aerobic exercises are the main components in cardiovascular training. Doing these exercises daily is an important way to improve and maintain your cardiovascular system.
Some cardiovascular exercises that are beneficial to your overall health and that cost little to no money include:
- Running
- Walking
- Dancing
- Cycling
- Rowing
- Circuit training
- Aerobics
- Swimming
- Stair climbing
Other cardiovascular exercises that you can participate in are games such as:
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Ice or Field hockey
- Tennis
- Lacrosse
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is recommended that children and teens get sixty minutes of physical activity every day or at least most days of the week. By participating in these activities (or any others that you can think of), you are on your way to improving your cardiovascular system. There are many benefits to cardiovascular training, such as:
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower overall cholesterol
- Increase in HDL (the good cholesterol)
- Decrease in body fat
- Increase in heart function (the body is able to pump blood more efficiently, which puts less stress on the heart)
- Decrease in resting heart rate
- Decrease in risk of developing heart disease
As you can see, your cardiovascular system is very important to your overall health. Cardiovascular training, through aerobic exercise, is an excellent way to prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases. Do not wait until you get older to start your training program. So get up, get out, and start moving!
Cardiovascular Training Review
Now that you have explored cardiovascular training, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. Click the player button to get started.