Cardiovascular

Fitness

Nina Respicio | Francine Ranada

WHAT IS CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS?
What is Cardiovascular Fitness?
● The ability of the body to take in, transport and use oxygen while
exercising.
● The result of your your heart, lungs, muscles and blood working
together in concert while you exercise (cardio).
● Increasing cardiovascular fitness means increasing the capability
of the heart and the cardiovascular system to supply oxygen and
energy to the body.
● Fitness experts generally measure cardiorespiratory endurance in
terms of maximal oxygen consumption, or VO2max.
○ The largest amount of oxygen your body is able to process
during strenuous aerobic exercise.
 A fit heart muscle
a) Like other muscles in
the body, the heart
becomes stronger if it
is exercised.

What does good b) With regular exercise,

the size and strength

cardiovascular of the heart increase

and it can pump more

fitness require? blood with each beat.

c) This allows the heart
to accomplish the
same amount of work
with fewer beats.
 A fit vascular system
a) The blood in the four
chambers of the heart
does not directly
nourish the heart.
b) Rather, numerous
What does good small arteries within
the heart muscle
cardiovascular provide for coronary
circulation.
fitness require? c) Poor coronary
circulation
precipitated by
unhealthy arteries can
be the cause of a
heart attack.
 A fit respiratory system and fit
blood
● The process of taking in
oxygen and delivering it to the

What does good lungs, where it is picked up by

the blood, is called external

cardiovascular respiration.

fitness require? i) External respiration requires fit lungs as

well as blood with adequate hemoglobin in
the red blood cells (erythrocytes)
 A fit respiratory system and fit
blood
● Delivering oxygen to the
What does good tissues from the blood is called
internal respiration.
cardiovascular i) Internal respiration requires an

fitness require? adequate number of healthy capillaries.

 A fit respiratory system and fit
blood
● Delivering oxygen to the
What does good tissues from the blood is called
internal respiration.
cardiovascular i) Internal respiration requires an

fitness require? adequate number of healthy capillaries.

 Fit muscle tissue capable of using
oxygen

a) Once the oxygen is

delivered, the muscle
What does good tissues must be able to use
oxygen to sustain physical
cardiovascular performance.
b) Physical activity that
fitness require? promotes cardiovascular
fitness stimulates changes
in muscle fibers that make
them more effective in
using oxygen.
FACTORS IO A R
R D U L
A
C AS C
AFFECT -V
-ING FITNESS
 Age
As a person ages, so do
their blood vessels. The
blood vessels become less
flexible, making it harder
for blood to move through
them easily.
 Age
Fatty deposits called
plaques also collect along
the artery walls and slow
the blood flow from the
heart.
 Age
Generally, one’s fitness
begins a gradual decline
after age 25.
 Age
Generally, one’s fitness
begins a gradual decline
after age 25.
 Genetic Makeup

Affects both the initial

levels of cardiorespiratory
endurance and the
capacity to improve it.
 Genetic Makeup

Affects both the initial

levels of cardiorespiratory
endurance and the
capacity to improve it.
 Genetic Makeup

An individual’s ratio of slow

to fast-twitch muscle fibers
can make a difference is
his or her fitness level.
(Little bearing only)
 Gender
After puberty, males on
average retain higher
cardiorespiratory fitness
levels than females because
they have higher hemoglobin
levels and carry less body
fat than females.
 Body Fat
Percentage

Carrying high amounts of

body fat reduces aerobic
capacity because fat is
“extra baggage” that does
not help burn calories.
 Level of
Conditioning
If an individual is currently
doing no aerobic activity at all,
he or she can improve your
fitness level by beginning a
personal fitness program that
includes aerobic exercise.
References:

Corbin, C., Welk, G., Corbin, W., & Welk, K. (2008). Concepts of physical fitness: Active lifestyles for
wellness. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill

Dale, P. (2017). What does cardiovascular fitness mean?. Retrieved from

https://www.livestrong.com/article/286610-what-does-cardiovascular-fitness-mean/

Hoeger, W., Hoeger, S., Hoeger, C., & Fawson, A. (2018). Principles and labs for fitness and
wellness. Boston, M.A.: Cengage Learning

Polar Global. (n.d.) What is aerobic (cardiovascular) fitness?. Retrieved from

https://support.polar.com/en/support/What_is_aerobic__cardiovascular__fitness_

Rainey, D. & Murray, T. (2005). Foundations of personal fitness. New York, N.Y.:
Glencoe/McGraw-Hill

Resnick, A. (2014). How age and gender affect your heart. Retrieved from
https://wa.kaiserpermanente.org/healthAndWellness/index.jhtml?item=%2Fcommon%2Fhealt
hAndWellness%2Fconditions%2FheartDisease%2FageAndGender.html