Why Is Cardiovascular Fitness Important?

By: Laura Evans

In the midst of a workout, it is easy to forget why cardiovascular fitness is important. You may also forget on those days where the mere thought of exercising makes your skin crawl. However, it's good to know that there are terrific reasons that you are getting all sweaty.

When you exercise, your heart and lungs have to work harder to supply your body with more oxygen for fuel. Over a given number of exercise sessions, your body needs less oxygen to perform the same level of exercise because you have built up your endurance and have become stronger. You would then increase the intensity of your workout. This builds your cardiovascular health.

Cardiovascular health is important because it can help you maintain your proper weight. In addition, cardiovascular fitness can help lower the "bad" cholesterol in your body, LDL, while increasing the level of "good" cholesterol or HDL. Cardiovascular fitness can also lower high blood pressure.

Over the long run, exercising can help prevent heart disease and strokes. Adding weight bearing exercises to your cardio program can reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis as you age. Being physically fit can also lower the risk of developing diabetes.

In the short term, regular exercise can help you reduce your stress levels. When you exercise, your body can produce endorphins, which produce the much acclaimed "runner's high." Of course, you don't have to actually run to get a runner's high. You can swim, ride your bike, join an aerobics class or engage in other activities.

Another short term benefit is weight loss and weight control. Hopefully, this short term benefit will translate into a long term benefit.

When you start an exercise program, be safe. It's easy to get over-excited in the beginning and push too hard, which can lead to injuries. Being hurt is counterproductive, because you won't be able to exercise. If you are joining a gym, you might want to ask about personal training. A personal trainer can custom design a fitness program specifically designed for you