What Exactly is cardio?

More often than not, when patients consult their physicians about hypertension, diabetes, weight loss, and even some other respiratory problems, doctors would not only prescribe meds but also advice them to get some “cardio”. Athletes on the other hand always have a lot of “cardio” in their training. Let’s go ahead and define this widely used term.

As a technical term, cardio comes from the Greek word “kardia” which means heart. It may refer to the heart itself, or cardiology – study of the heart, cardiovascular – system composed of the heart and blood vessels, or aerobic exercise – any physical exercise that would make the body use oxygen to fuel the workout.

Cardio Exercises

Common connotation when hearing the word cardio are endurance exercises that strengthen the heart. People would usually think that a cardio workout needs to be strenuous and repetitive in such activities as running and biking. Actually, cardio is any exercise that is designed to increase the level of oxygen in the blood. As long as the exercise is done for a longer stretch of time, increasing the heart rate thereby pumping more nutrient and oxygen-rich blood throughout the body, then it is cardio. It doesn’t matter if it’s running, dancing, playing basketball, biking, or doing a triathlon, as long as it makes your heart pump faster, it is considered cardio. Even doing pull-ups or gymnastics can be regarded to as cardio.

Cardio is not only fun to do, but is also very good for the body. It could help you trim your weight down. If laughing could burn as much as 1.3 calories per minute, then a thirty-minute cardio workout would do so much more! Moving around consumes more calories than just lounging on a sofa watching a movie.

Just like any muscle, a heart needs exercise. Otherwise it will get frail. The more you perform endurance or cardio exercises, contracting the heart more and more, the more it will become stronger, and a stronger heart will surely deliver more oxygen and nutrients all over the body.

The body demands more nutrients and oxygen when cardio is done. To address this need, the lungs expand thereby increasing its capacity. The heart is able to deliver more blood via the blood vessels. The delivery system is reinforced. This would mean healthier cells all the time.

Cardio Releases More Endorphins

Doing cardio could help decrease stress and improve general mental health. Exercising stimulates the brain to produce and release more endorphins – as people call it, the happy hormones. Endorphins are responsible in improving moods and increasing energy levels. It will decrease stress, making you happier and less prone to depression. Doing cardio is said to maintain brain youth as a stronger heart will pump oxygen and nutrient-filled blood more to the brain, slowing the aging process.

Cardio can make you sleep better too. Studies show that doing regular cardio could help lessen or totally get rid of the difficulty in falling asleep and can make sleep last longer.

Lastly, cardio can improve self-confidence. Majority of people who have sedentary lifestyles have low self-esteem. They feel that their bodies are not as good as what they see on television or in magazines. Working out, making your body accomplish what you want it to do can totally change your attitude towards your body and life in general. You’ll look better, sleep better, and feel better.