What is cardio exercise

You probably already know that cardio, or "aerobic," exercise -- the kind that gets your heart pumping -- is good for your ticker. It lowers your resting pulse and strengthens your heart muscle. That's why, as you slowly lengthen your cardio workouts, you're able to go for longer time and distance. But your heart isn't the only part of your body that benefits. Cardio exercise helps lower blood sugar (glucose) levels and improve insulin resistance if you have diabetes. Resistance training, like weightlifting, is also good. A combination of the two seems to help the most. Talk to your doctor before you start a new fitness routine if you have diabetes, especially if you take insulin or other meds. Aerobic exercise like running can help ease depression and anxiety well enough that your doctor or therapist may suggest it as a treatment. Part of the reason might be that it seems to enlarge your hippocampus -- an area of your brain that manages emotion -- and slow the breakdown of brain cells. Stick with it on a regular basis for several months to get the most benefit. Cardio may be good for your shut-eye. Scientists know that it can help you keep an even mood, wind down at bedtime, and set up a healthy sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm). The exact brain effects aren't always clear, but people who exercise more tend to get more of the deep "slow wave" sleep that helps renew the brain and body. But try not to exercise too close to bedtime, which disrupts sleep for some people. Pe...

Overview Cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) is a personalized program of education and exercise. The supervised program is designed to improve health in those with heart disease. It's often recommended after a heart attack or heart surgery. Cardiac rehabilitation involves exercise training, emotional support and education about a heart-healthy lifestyle. Healthy lifestyle habits include eating a nutritious diet, managing weight and quitting smoking. Why it's done Cardiac rehabilitation is done to improve health in those with a heart condition or a history of heart surgery. The goals of cardiac rehabilitation are to: • Get stronger • Reduce the risk of future heart problems • Prevent the heart condition from worsening • Improve quality of life Cardiac rehabilitation is an option for people with many forms of heart disease. Your provider may recommend cardiac rehab if your medical history includes: • Angioplasty and stenting • Cardiomyopathy • Certain congenital heart diseases • Chest pain (stable angina) • Coronary artery bypass surgery • Coronary artery disease • Heart attack • Heart failure • Heart or lung transplant • Heart valve repair or replacement • Peripheral artery disease with pain in the arms or legs during activity (claudication) Risks Cardiac rehabilitation isn't right for everyone with heart disease. Before it's recommended, your health care team examines you and reviews your medical history. Tests are done to make sure you're ready to start cardiac rehab....

By doing the same workouts for a while and tracking these elements, you'll see that you're able to go longer and harder as time goes on. More complex tests appeal to veteran exercisers, professional athletes, or people who like to compete in races. Tests can give you an accurate calculation of things like your You can do a three-minute step test or a Rockport walk test without any complex equipment. Try taking one or both of these tests every few weeks to see how you're doing. It can be motivating when you see those numbers change. Having something tangible to look at is often more powerful than just knowing it in your mind. 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+ Excellent 52-81 58-80 51-84 63-91 60-92 70-92 Good 85-93 85-92 89-96 95-101 97-103 96-101 Above Average 96-102 95-101 100-104 104-110 106-111 104-111 Average 104-110 104-110 107-112 113-118 116-121 116-121 Below Average 113-120 113-119 115-120 120-124 119-127 123-126 Poor 122-131 122-129 124-132 126-132 129-135 128-133 Very Poor 135-169 134-171 137-169 137-171 141-174 135-155 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+ Excellent 50-76 51-76 49-76 56-82 60-77 59-81 Good 79-84 79-85 80-88 97-93 86-94 87-92 Above Average 88-93 88-94 88-95 95-101 97-100 94-102 Average 95-100 96-102 100-105 103-111 103-109 104-110 Below Average 102-107 104-110 108-113 113-119 111-117 114-118 Poor 111-119 114-121 116-124 121-126 119-128 121-126 Very Poor 124-157 126-161 130-163 131-159 131-154 130-151 Interval Training This involves going fast or hard...

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Cardiovascular exercise is a surefire way to get your blood pumping harder and faster, but why exactly is that a goal? And how much harder does your heart need to be working for the activity you’re doing to “count” as cardio? We talked to clinical exercise physiologist What is cardio? “Cardio” comes from the Greek word “kardía,” which means heart. Simply put, exercise typically counts as cardio if it involves intentional coordinated physical actions that raise your heart rate for an extended period of time. You’ll also hear cardio referred to as “aerobic exercise.” The term emphasizes the enhanced movement and utilization of oxygen for energy production when you’re engaged in a cardiovascular workout. While not an exhaustive list, all of the activities below fall into the category of cardiovascular exercise: • Cycling. • Running or jogging. • Rowing. • Swimming. • Walking and hiking. • Cross-country skiing. You can also use machines like ellipticals, steppers, treadmills and rowing machines (ergometers) to get the cardio your body craves. Keep in mind that — even if you happen to miss your cardio exercise session for the day — certain everyday tasks like cleaning, gardening and mowing the lawn can also count as heart-benefitting physical activity. How cardio benefits your heart There’s a reason we call it ...