Cardiovascular exercise is called cardio for a reason: because cardiovascular exercise primarily benefits the cardiovascular system. The primary function of the cardiovascular system is to deliver oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to the muscles. Large components of our cardiovascular system include the heart, blood, blood vessels (e.g. veins, arteries, capillaries), and the lungs. The more regular cardio we do, the better our cardiovascular system performs.
As we become more cardiovascularly fit, our heart becomes more muscular and stronger, our blood pressure improves, the amount of oxygen we can effectively utilize increases, and our resting heart rate decreases. In other words, cardiovascular work becomes easier, and we feel better.
Additionally cardio speeds our recovery from delayed-onset muscle soreness. By speeding the delivery of vital nutrients and hormones to the affected tissue as well as hurrying the removal of waste products like lactic acid from the affected tissue, cardiovascular activity hastens the recovery process.
Put shortly: regular cardiovascular exercise keeps your heart strong, your daily chores easy, and helps you recover from strenuous exercise quickly and efficiently. We recommend that healthy and fit individuals sustain at least 20 minutes of cardiovascular activity at least three times a week, every week.
