|
Cardiovascular
resistance, an advantage of physical exercise
BY
JOAQUIN ORAMAS
IT’S not just older people
who need to have an exercise program appropriate to
their physical condition and age in order to enjoy
good health and live longer and better.
Physical activity is
important throughout our lives, and its benefits are
countless, including weight control, flexible joints,
muscle tone and combating stress. But cardiovascular
resistance is perhaps one of the most important
benefits of working out.
When we do exercises of
certain intensity for more than two minutes, our
muscles need a large increase in oxygen supply.
These are called aerobic activities, and anyone who
carries them out regularly necessarily increases
cardiovascular activity.
This consists of the
continuing capacity of the blood to take oxygen to
the cells, assuming the efficiency of the heart and
blood vessels, to pump and transport a sufficient
supply of blood to every part of the body,
especially to those muscles that are most active
during the activity. But it also assumes capacity of
muscle tissue, of each one of its cells, to process
that oxygen supply and eliminate the residuals
produced by the process.
By a certain age, and above
all when one has led a sedentary life, and one’s
diet has not included the necessary balance of
lipids, this capacity can decrease, creating the
risk of vascular accidents.
The heart muscle, like other
muscles, is capable of developing resistance when we
make it work. If it is able to function effectively
for a prolonged period under more demanding
conditions than normal, it will not have too many
problems later on in accompanying us with its
pumping in our everyday lives, which are much more
relaxed. But neither will it be surprised in
situations that require its quick reaction.
However, the heart is not
capable of making its system work when it is not
accompanied by healthy blood vessels. Cardiovascular
work keeps the tissue of these vessels in good
condition, making them resistant and flexible, so
that blood may be transported through them with
minimal effort.
One of the greatest risk
factors is excess weight, particularly obesity. In
practice, an individual is described as obese when
he or she has a percentage of body fat greater than
25% in men and 30% in women. Its main
characteristics include exaggerated hunger; an
absence of satisfaction after eating; never feeling
full, and eating constantly between meals and snacks,
as well as gorging on large amounts of food without
being hungry and without tasting its flavor. Those
who suffer from this condition are aware that their
behavior is abnormal, but feel helpless to control
or prevent it.
However, if treated in time
by doctors, this illness may be remedied.
Recent studies show that 40%
of the causes of the disease may be considered
hereditary, and this genetic influence may be
responsible for massively obese as well as centrally
obese (potbellied) individuals.
Treatment for obesity does
not just deal with excess weight; it also aims to
improve the general state of health of individuals
in this situation. Guidelines to follow include
reducing calorie intake with diets that are balanced
in proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It includes a
physical exercise plan adapted to the patient’s
abilities.
Psychotherapy plays an
important role in boosting the motivation of these
patients, helping them to follow their diet and to
modify their attitudes toward food. All of this is
possible after medical diagnosis and guidance, given
the effects that this disease may have on the body.
|
