1. By: Tim Farren

2.  Can exercise be bad for you?  What are benefits of exercise to the Cardiovascular system?  How much should one exercise?

3.  Increased risk of having a cardiac-related disorder  Including: heart attack, serious heart-rhythm disorder, or even death  Risk is extremely small however

4.  The older one is, the higher the risk of an occurring event during or after exercise  1 per 11 million men 20-39 experience problems  1 per 900 thousand men 60-69  Extremely rare in women of all ages

5.  Prolonged exercise can show signs of myocardial fatigue  Complete recovery within a few days  Exercise is considered healthy because of the low chances of events and high benefits

6.  Can exercise be bad for you?  What are benefits of exercise to the Cardiovascular system?  How much should one exercise?

7.  Reduced blood pressure  Reduced bad cholesterol levels (LDL and total)  Increase in good cholesterol levels (HDL)

8.  Exercise also improves the body’s ability to take in and use oxygen.  This can make exercise easier at higher levels, especially for those with cardiovascular disease.

9.  18-25% peak oxygen intake improvement.  18-34% peak exercise duration improvement.  Subjective symptoms, quality-of-life scores, and activity profile have been found better after exercise.

10.  Muscle Strengthening  Lifestyle Change

11.  High pressure with muscle groups occlude muscle blood flow, increasing after-loading of the heart.  This limits chances of cardiac ejection and stroke volume.

12.  Those who generally exercise tend to include healthier habits in their lifestyle.  Healthier eating, non-smoking, increased water intake.  Causes reduced cardiac risk factors, though the benefits are small.

13.  Resting heart rate decrease  Reduced blood pressure  Increased peripheral venous tone  Plasma volume expansion  Increased myocardial contractility and stroke volume

14.  Increase in parasympathetic nerve activity  Contraction rate of the atria is reduced

15.  Resting blood pressure and active blood pressure always lowers from exercise  Caused by strengthening of skeletal muscles

16.  Increased peripheral venous tone from exercise  Increases central blood volume and cardiac stroke volume.  Also reduces likelihood of hypotension after exercise.

17.  Early response  Expansion in plasma volume after exercise.  Due to adjustments in the renin/aldosterone system during exercise (Regulates blood pressure and fluid balance)

18.  Exercise increases myocardial contractility.  Boosts oxygen consumption of myocardium.  Can increase cardiac stroke volume by 20% or more.  Leads to increase in functional capacity.

19.  Can exercise be bad for you?  What are benefits of exercise to the Cardiovascular system?  How much should one exercise?

20.  At least 30 minutes of modest activity on most or all days of the week  30-60 minutes of continuous physical exercise 3 days a week

21.  Exercise sessions of about 60-70% of maximum oxygen intake  Older people can benefit from as low as 40% maximum oxygen intake

22.  Since chances of risks occurring are low, exercise is considered healthy.  It is important to keep up with exercise, since sedentary lifestyle can lead to increased risk factors.

23.  Anonymous. "Physical Activity Exercise's Effects on the Heart." NY Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2012.  Dimmeler, Stefanie. 2003. Exercise and cardiovascular health. Circulation. 107:3118- 3120.  Myers, Jonathan. 2003. Exercise and cardiovascular health. Circulation. 107:e2-e5.  Shephard, Roy J. 1999. Exercise as cardiovascular therapy. Circulation. 99:963- 972