Cardiovascular fitness
Cardiovascular Fitness
Cardiovascular fitness (pronunciation: /ˌkɑːrdi.oʊˈvæsk.jə.lər ˈfɪt.nəs/) is a measure of the heart's ability to pump oxygen-rich blood to the muscles. It is also known as cardiorespiratory fitness.
Etymology
The term "cardiovascular" is derived from the Greek words 'kardia' meaning heart and 'vasculum' meaning little vessel. The term "fitness" comes from the Old English 'fitt' which means suitable or appropriate.
Definition
Cardiovascular fitness is the ability of the heart, blood vessels, and lungs to supply oxygen-rich blood to the working muscle tissues and the ability of the muscles to use oxygen to produce energy for movement. This type of fitness is a health-related component of physical fitness that is brought about by sustained physical activity.
Related Terms
- Aerobic Exercise: A type of physical activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously, and is rhythmic in nature.
- Anaerobic Exercise: A physical exercise intense enough to cause lactate to form. It is used by athletes in non-endurance sports to promote strength, speed and power and by body builders to build muscle mass.
- Heart Rate: The speed of the heartbeat measured by the number of contractions (beats) of the heart per minute (bpm).
- VO2 Max: The maximum rate of oxygen consumption measured during incremental exercise.
Importance
Cardiovascular fitness is important for overall health as it reduces the risk of developing several diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. It also improves the body's ability to recover from physical exertion.
Measurement
Cardiovascular fitness can be measured using tests such as the treadmill test or the VO2 max test. These tests measure the maximum amount of oxygen the body can use during intense exercise.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cardiovascular fitness
- Wikipedia's article - Cardiovascular fitness
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