Drug Medical Information

Cardiorespiratory FITNESS

Recently TWO WOMEN were shopping in a department store. Ms. Green, a professional, 40-year-old, single female, was purchasing exercise clothing and accidentally bumped into Mrs. Taylor, a 45-year-old, lower-income woman, who was purchasing clothing for her grandchildren. As the two women struck up a conversation, Ms. Green explained that she had just enrolled in the new Jane Fonda Step Aerobics class at the local health club. She asked Mrs. Taylor if she had considered joining the class because step aerobics is very popular and is a great form of exercise. Mrs. Taylor responded, "Well, you know, I'm so busy cleaning houses that I just don't have the time or the energy to join an exercise class!"
Unfortunately, the cardiorespiratory exercise boom has not reached all segments of the U.S. population for various reasons. Many obstacles, such as increased time demands, may make exercise seem impossible. As your time-management skills improve, however, finding time to exercise will not be as difficult as it may seem. Also, many people mistakenly believe, as Mrs. Taylor does, that participating in an exercise class will make them more fatigued. In reality, the opposite is true. Improved cardiorespiratory fitness often increases your energy level. Many other benefits are to be derived from participating in an aerobic conditioning program.
Cardiorespiratory endurance is referred to by many names, including aerobic power, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2), physical fitness, and aerobic metabolism. Cardiorespiratory endurance is the ability of the heart, blood vessels, and the lungs to deliver oxygen to the exercising muscles in amounts sufficient to meet the demands of the workload. Endurance is the ability to perform prolonged bouts of work without experiencing fatigue or exhaustion. As your cardiorespiratory endurance level increases, so does your ability to engage in sustained physical activity. By the end of several months of cardiorespiratory activities, you will be able to exercise for long periods of time without experiencing prolonged fatigue.
As your body adapts to an aerobic conditioning program, you will also feel better and have a much higher energy level. A high level of cardiorespiratory fitness actually increases the daily energy level as well as your level of productivity. A high level of cardiorespiratory endurance is also beneficial in helping to delay several chronic diseases, such as heart disease and high blood pressure. Recent research has even shown that people with high levels of cardiorespiratory endurance are less susceptible to developing cancer. Since heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancer are among the leading causes of death in the United States, it is especially important to maintain a healthy cardiorespiratory system.
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