What are the short and long term effects of exercise on cardiovascular system?

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Answer

à Short term effects of exercise - these occur during the session itself.

The Cardiovascular System

Heart Rate Increases - To meet the demands of the body the heart has to beat faster to pump the blood round quicker.

Stroke Volume Increases - More blood is needed to deliver oxygen to the muscles so the heart works faster to pump out more blood from the left ventricle per contraction.

Cardiac Output Increase - Again more blood is needed to meet the demands of the body for oxygen, the heart pumps out more blood in one minute.

Blood Pressure Increases - Blood pressure increases in response to the body's demand for more oxygen rich blood than normal.

Blood redistributed - When we exercise the muscles have a higher demand for oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide so the heart has to work harder to get the blood to the muscles faster. Rather than overloading the heart blood is redistributed. For example, when exercising the blood that is around the digestive system is redirected to the muscles and the organs that need it. This way there is more blood so higher levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide can be delivered and removed from the muscles.

Decrease in blood pressure - When you stop exercising your heart lowers the cardiac output and so blood pressure drops. In addition when you stop exercising metabolic by-products such as lactic acid remain in the blood stream, this causes blood vessels in the muscles and surrounding tissues to remain dilated. This means blood flow stays high and this lowers blood pressure.

à Long term physical adaptations - these occur as a result of a long term training programme, six months approx.

The Cardiovascular System

Hypertrophy of the heart - the heart is a muscle and just like any muscle in our body it can become larger through training.

Increase in thickness of the myocardium - The myocardium increases in thickness due to hypertrophy. Because the heart is being forced to work harder more regularly it grows stronger so it is able to meet the required demands more easily.

Increase in stroke volume at rest - Because the heart has become larger it can therefore hold a larger volume of blood. When the heart contracts it pumps out a larger volume of blood because it can now hold a larger volume of blood.

Bradycardia - Bradycardia is the term used when an individual's heartbeat drops below 40 beats per minute. If this occurred in a sedentary individual it would be considered abnormal and medical help should be sought. However, this often occurs in elite athletes due to hypertrophy of the heart and the increase in stroke volume. Their hearts work so efficiently it is not necessary for them to beat any faster than 40bpm.

Increase in cardiac output - Due to hypertrophy in one beat the heart can pump a larger volume of blood than it could before.

Decrease in resting heart rate - Due to hypertrophy it is not necessary for the heart to beat as quick as it did, now the heart is larger it can beat slower but still achieve pumping the same amount of blood. The heart becomes more efficient.

Increased capillaries in trained muscle - Skeletal muscles are identical to the heart as in they too can undergo hypertrophy. When skeletal muscles undergo hypertrophy there surface area increases and so there are more capillaries around trained muscles. This improved the speed at which the oxygen diffuses from the red blood cells to the muscular tissue.

First answer by ID3264878135. Last edit by 01evansk. Contributor trust: 18 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 73 [recommend question]