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.
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.
As the name suggests, aerobic exercise is any form of exercise that promotes the circulation of oxygen throughout the body. This will help your heart work faster and thus makes you breathe faster. The best part of aerobic exercise is – you can perform it anywhere – be it your living room, your bedroom, etc. Many different types of exercise are considered to be aerobic.
As per American Heart Association, is it expected to exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes at least 5 to 7 days a week. This can be further broken down into 10 minute periods. This can help minimum guidelines set for reducing cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure risk. You can also burn calories if you plan to do aerobic exercise for straight 30 minutes. Do not forget to warm up properly, cool down, and stretch in your aerobic exercise session.
A few examples of aerobic exercise are swimming, cycling, walking, rowing, etc. These are low-impact aerobic exercises. A high-impact exercise includes running, jumping rope or steps aerobics. Each one provides health benefits. Let’s understand these benefits in detail:
Aerobic exercises help to burn calories. Regularly following even 30 minutes of low to moderate intensity workouts can lead to losing out excess weight or may even help maintain an ideal weight.
If you are regularly following aerobic exercise for 30 minutes, it can help improve the capacity to use oxygen. This happens when the heart’s capacity to transfer blood (oxygen) to the muscles. This happens gradually through an increase in the size of the heart’s pumping chambers which allows them to send the same amount of blood without the need to pump fast. As you get used to the intensity of exercise, it becomes easier and can also undertake an activity for longer.
Exercise can lead to the release of happy hormones, which we all are aware of now. Moving your body even sometimes can help improve your mood. This is being confirmed by one of the studies where individuals who were suffering from depression were asked to do 30 minutes of daily aerobic exercise which included walking on a treadmill. All individuals reported a significant reduction in their stress levels and symptoms of depression.
Did you know that aerobic exercise is considered the safest sport for individuals of all ages? This is because aerobic training offers a structured and focused approach to exercise, targeting multiple muscles in the body. By engaging in aerobic activities, you can improve cardiovascular fitness, strengthen various muscle groups, and enhance overall health and well-being.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD
Aerobic exercises help improve the efficiency of the heart to pump the blood to muscles and thus it is strongly recommended by the American Heart Association to regularly follow aerobic exercises like walking, jogging, swimming, etc. For this, aerobic exercise is also referred to as cardiovascular exercise. They can also help lower cholesterol levels and help raise the ‘good’ cholesterol levels in the body. This can also help control blood pressure levels.
Regularly performing aerobic exercises does have a positive impact on the heart and lungs, which can help improve stamina and endurance. You may begin any of the aerobic exercises and gradually increase the frequency and intensity of the exercise till you reach the peak. Then more moderate-intensity exercise and this way keep working on your stamina.
Aerobic exercise activates your immune system in a good way. This may leave you less susceptible to viral illnesses, such as the common cold, the flu and other chronic diseases. Aerobic exercises are high-intensity cardio activities that promote a healthy immune system, keeping diseases at bay.
Also Read: Benefits of Wall Sitting: A Comprehensive Research-Based Guide
Aerobic exercise boosts your high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the “good,” cholesterol, and lowers your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad,” cholesterol. This may result in less buildup of plaques in your arteries, thus keeping them free of blockages.
Based on my experience, I have observed that incorporating aerobic exercise into your routine can provide various benefits to your body, including improved joint flexibility. When you engage in aerobic activities such as jogging, cycling, or dancing, it promotes movement and range of motion in your joints. This can help enhance flexibility, reduce stiffness, and support joint health when done regularly.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
Aerobic exercise keeps your muscles strong, which can help you maintain mobility as you get older. Exercise can also lower the risk of falls and injuries from falls in older adults. It can improve your quality of life by helping you stay active and energetic all day long.
Apart from all these benefits, regularly attending aerobic classes can help you make more friends. For example – Going for a walk together, joining a swimming class, playing tennis or badminton. It’s the most effective way of ensuring that you do it regularly.
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