Aerobic exercises and cardio training essentially refer to the same thing but their mechanisms differ slightly. Aerobic exercises refer to any form of workout which improves the blood flow and hence oxygen reaches to different parts of your body whereas cardio training refers to any form of exercise which is more focused on improving heart health. However, both of them have similar fitness targets and help achieve similar goals if not the same. People with some underlying medical conditions must consult their doctor before trying any exercise.

Benefits of doing aerobic exercises

Aerobic exercises are beneficial for all people, irrespective of age, gender and flexibility. You do not need to be an athlete to do aerobic exercises. What might come across as heavy technical jargon, is very simple. Aerobic exercises have a great impact on both mind and body. Aerobic exercises boost the performance of different organ systems and promote overall health and fitness. What are the benefits of doing aerobic exercises? There are too many benefits. A few important ones among them are the following:

Helps keep weight in check

Doing aerobic exercises regularly may help you lose weight and keep your body in shape. It is great for burning excess fat and keeps your muscles toned and conditioned.

Boosts immunity

Aerobic exercises are known to boost the immune system, which in turn increases the body’s strength in fighting viral and bacterial infections and makes us less prone to fall ill.

Boosts stamina and strength

In the beginning, doing aerobic exercises may come across as extremely tiring and exhausting, but eventually, as your body gets habituated to the physical workout, it gets strengthened. Your stamina increases and you become fit.

Reduces the risk of chronic health disorders

Regular aerobic exercises may reduce the risk of chronic illnesses like cardiac issues, high cholesterol, joint problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. by boosting overall health and improving the efficiency of the organs.

Supports the cardiac system

Aerobic exercises may prevent plaque buildup in the arteries which makes them less prone to get blocked and thus lesser risk of cardiac issues.

Makes the heart more efficient

Aerobic exercises reduce the resting heart rate and improve the circulation of blood to the different parts of the body.

May increase life span

Taking part in aerobic exercises regularly may reduce the risk of chronic health conditions occurring, which in turn may increase the lifespan of an individual.

Keeps you active as you age

With age comes several health problems including bones and joint disorders. Starting aerobic exercises early in your life may reduce the risk of those and help you lead an active and healthy lifestyle throughout.

Benefits of cardio training

Cardio training has a lot of interesting options including cycling, dancing, kickboxing, etc. Cardio training can make sure that you do not get bored while you try to keep yourself fit. Cardio exercises prevent the heart from overworking unnecessarily by reducing the resting heart rate and increasing the capacity of the heart. Let us explore some of the benefits of doing cardio training.

May improve skin

Cardio training or any other way of staying active improves the circulation of blood and helps remove the toxins from the body efficiently. This in turn may result in a clearer, hydrated complexion with a reduced chance of breakouts occurring. 

May improve the respiratory system

Regular cardio training helps you use your lungs to their full capacity and thus increases their efficiency. It may help lower your breathing rate and reduce the chances of shortness of breath.

May enhance the efficiency of the pancreas

Engaging in cardio exercises regularly may help reduce the stress on the pancreas. The pancreas is an extremely important organ which helps us get energy from the food that we eat by producing insulin. This may reduce the chances of diabetes and other problems associated with it.

As the association between physical inactivity and the increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity solidified, further data and studies supported the advantages of exercise on physical well-being. Anaerobic and aerobic exercise have a favorable effect on lipid metabolism, anaerobic exercises have been shown to have a positive influence on the lipid profile.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

May improve the quality of sleep

Cardio exercises help you fall asleep faster and may reduce the chances of insomnia. It may improve the overall quality of sleep which will make you feel more energetic in the morning.

People usually focus on muscle building and skip cardio workouts from their routine, in fact, cardio helps strengthen heart and lungs, burns calories, manages appetite and boosts mood and is known to help an individual sleep better.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.

May increase energy

Working out makes the body release endorphins which may ensure that you are more energized and become fatigued less frequently.

Aerobic exercises and cardio training help improve the efficiency of the heart and the respiratory system. It is also great for improving the quality of sleep and retaining energy throughout the day. Aerobic exercises and cardio training boost overall health and help an individual live a fit and healthy life. So if you were waiting for reasons to start your fitness routine, this article has listed enough reasons to motivate you to get on the fitness track and enjoy a healthy and happy life.

Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.