The Non-Stop Muscle:The Non-Stop Muscle:Your HeartYour Heart

Physical Education Lesson-Physical Education Lesson-

By Jennifer ElyBy Jennifer Ely

Did you know that Did you know that your heart pumps your heart pumps over 2,000 gallons of over 2,000 gallons of blood a day? blood a day?

That is like 2,000 That is like 2,000 gallons of milk.gallons of milk.

That’s a lot of work for That’s a lot of work for a little organ that is a little organ that is about the size of your about the size of your fist. fist.

An adult’s heart is the An adult’s heart is the size of two of a child’s size of two of a child’s fists.fists.

At rest, your heart pumps At rest, your heart pumps about 5 quarts of blood a about 5 quarts of blood a minute.minute.

But when you are active, But when you are active, this may raise to 20 or this may raise to 20 or more quarts a minute.more quarts a minute.

The heart and circulation.The heart and circulation. Heart beat sounds. Heart beat sounds.

Benefits of Exercise on Benefits of Exercise on Your Your HeartHeart

If you participate in a good cardiovascular If you participate in a good cardiovascular fitness program your heart will remain fitness program your heart will remain healthy.healthy.

What do you think “cardiovascular” What do you think “cardiovascular” means?means?

That’s right…That’s right…

““Cardio” means heart Cardio” means heart and “vascular” means and “vascular” means your veins and your veins and arteries.arteries.

So cardiovascular So cardiovascular fitness means the fitness means the fitness of your fitness of your circulatory system.circulatory system.

How many times a week should I How many times a week should I exercise my heart?exercise my heart?

Answer:Answer:

From 3-5 times a week.From 3-5 times a week.

How long should I exercise?How long should I exercise?

Answer:Answer:

Between 15-20 minutes of aerobic exercise.Between 15-20 minutes of aerobic exercise.

What is aerobic exercise?What is aerobic exercise?

Answer:Answer:

““Aerobic” exercises are those that can be Aerobic” exercises are those that can be performed for long periods of time.performed for long periods of time.

Walking, roller skating, jogging, cross-Walking, roller skating, jogging, cross-country skiing, and bicycling, are country skiing, and bicycling, are examples of aerobic exercise.examples of aerobic exercise.

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