Lloyd Dean

Short and Long Term Effects of Exercise on Cardio – Respiratory

System

AimsBy the end of the lesson you should be able to:

Explain the short and long term effects of exercise on the heart

Explain the short and long term effects of exercise on the lungs

Explain the short and long term effects of exercise on the blood vessels

Component Structure Function

Epiglottis

Trachea

Bronchus

Bronchioles

Alveoli

Diaphragm

Intercostal muscles

Cardiovascular fitnessCardiovascular fitness is not just for top sportspeople

Involves the circulatory and the respiratory systems

The heart or cardiac muscle is different to any other muscle in that it never tires

It must continually pump blood — without it, we would die. If the blood vessels become blocked or hardened, angina or heart attack occurs

Improved cardiovascular fitness increases the number of blood vessels in and around the heart, so reducing the risk of a heart attack

Body changes during exercise

The level of carbon dioxide in the blood increase

The brain detects this and sends a signal to the lungs to breathe faster and deeper

Gas exchange in the lungs speeds up

More carbon dioxide passes out of the blood and more oxygen passes into it

The brain also sends a signal to the heart to beat faster, making the heart rate go up

The muscles squeeze on veins, sending more blood back to the heart

Body changes during exercise

Cardiac output rises — more blood gets pumped to the muscles each minute

This means more oxygen reaches the muscles each minute and more carbon dioxide is carried away

Arterioles widen so that your blood pressure won’t get too high

Blood gets moved to where it is needed from where it is less needed, eg from your gut to your legs

To make this happen, blood vessels widen and constrict at different points (vasodilation and vasoconstriction)

Body changes during exercise

Exercise generates heat, making the body hotter

Blood is directed close to the skin to cool down

This makes the skin redden

The body is also cooled by sweating, through evaporation

Blood flow to skeletal muscles increases

Movement at joints may increase markedly

Short-term benefits of exercise

Healthier heart, muscles, bones and joints

More calories burnt

Increased energy levels

Reduced stress, depression and anxiety

Better sleep

Faster, sharper thinking

Cardio-respiratory training effects The heart becomes more

efficient

The stroke volume is increased and, as a result, the resting heart rate becomes lower

Recovery after exercise becomes quicker

Blood volume and red cells increase

Arteries grow larger

The diaphragm grows stronger

Lung capacity increases

The heart’s workload is reduced

Less chance of heart disease

Increase in capillary network

Blood supply to the heart increases

The lungs become more expandable, increasing in volume