Categories >> Treatments >> Physical Exercise >> Cardio Exercise
Cardio exercise, also known as cardiovascular exercise, refers to any physical activity that elevates your heart rate and breathing, essentially working your heart and lungs by increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery throughout the body; common examples include walking, running, swimming, cycling, and jumping rope, all performed at a sustained moderate intensity for a set period of time to improve overall fitness and health. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key points about cardio exercise: [1, 2, 6]
• Increases heart rate and breathing: The primary goal of cardio is to raise your heart rate and breathing rate, which strengthens your cardiovascular system. [1, 2, 6]
• Improves oxygen delivery: By working your heart and lungs, cardio enhances the body’s ability to deliver oxygen to muscles during activity. [1, 2, 7]
• Benefits for health: Regular cardio exercise can help with weight management, reduce the risk of heart disease, improve blood pressure, boost mood, and enhance endurance. [1, 2, 8, 9]
• Variety of activities: Many activities can be considered cardio, including walking, jogging, swimming, biking, dancing, stair climbing, jumping rope, and rowing. [1, 2, 6, 10, 11]
[1] https://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-cardio
[2] https://ucfhealth.com/our-services/lifestyle-medicine/cardio/
[3] https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/cardiovascular-exercise
[4] https://www.healthline.com/health/cardio-everyday
[5] https://www.beaumont.org/services/weight-loss/cardiovascular-training-vs-strength-training-for-weight-loss
[6] https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/cardio-exercises-list
[7] https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/healthy-heart/cardiovascular-fitness–what-it-means-to-your-heart-health.html
[8] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6172294/
[9] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/aerobic-exercise/art-20045541
[10] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/best-cardio-workouts
[11] https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/low-impact-cardio