Kickstart Your Cardiovascular Fitness

Every moment, every day of your life, your heart works to support everything your body does. That is some serious heavy lifting from an organ and a muscle that never gets a break. Beating around 100,000 times a day, your heart pumps 2,000 gallons worth of blood through a microscopic blood vessel system that totals 60,000 miles in length. This month, give your heart a helping hand and strengthen it with a cardiovascular exercise routine.

Studies have shown that simply doing 30-40 minutes of exercise a day can improve your overall health and wellness, while also having a positive impact on your heart. This includes both aerobic and anaerobic exercises. So, what’s the difference? Let’s break it down. 

AEROBIC Aerobic exercise focuses on elevating and then consistently maintaining your heart rate for an extended period. This type of fitness has a direct impact on your circulatory system, as it engages your lungs, heart, and large muscle groups for a substantial amount of time. Running, hiking, and swimming are all categorized under aerobic exercise. 

ANAEROBICAnaerobic exercise focuses on strengthening your muscles with short, but intense, workouts. Also known as resistance training, these bursts of activity help build your cardiovascular endurance and overall heart health, as they push you to perform at your maximum in short, timed periods. Examples of this include sprinting, jumping, or weightlifting. 

Both types of exercise provide a variety of benefits for your health and wellness. Your fitness goals can help you determine the best type of workouts to participate in; however, a little cardio goes a long way. Be sure to start slow and build up to the level your body is comfortable with. This month, work a little harder to give your heart a helping hand. Strengthen the organ that never stops working for you, with an increased level of cardiovascular fitness.

Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/difference-between-aerobic-and-anaerobic#TOC_TITLE_HDR_1
https://www.unitypoint.org/dubuque/article.aspx?id=da115eb9-4a99-4895-a36d-136190831fad