What are the cardiovascular adjustment during exercise in human?

Cardiovascular adjustments during exercise in human

During exercise, the body's demand for oxygen and nutrients increases. To meet this demand, the cardiovascular system makes a number of adjustments, including:

1. Increased heart rate: The heart rate increases to pump more blood to the muscles and other organs.

2. Increased stroke volume: Stroke volume increases as the heart muscle contracts more forcefully. This means that each heartbeat pumps out more blood.

3. Increased cardiac output: Cardiac output is calculated by multiplying the heart rate by the stroke volume. Thus, both increased heart rate and increased stroke volume increase cardiac output.

4. Vasodilation: Vasodilation occurs in the blood vessels of the muscles and other organs that are active during exercise. This allows more blood to flow to these areas.

5. Vasoconstriction: Blood flow is reduced to non-essential organs and tissues such as the skin and digestive organs. This helps divert blood to the heart, brain and skeletal muscles, which have the highest oxygen demands.

6. Increased blood pressure: To pump the increased cardiac output against the increased resistance of the dilated blood vessels, the blood pressure increases.

7. Increased red blood cell production: To meet the increased oxygen demand, red blood cell production increases.

8. Increased blood oxygen concentration: The concentration of oxygen in the blood increases as more red blood cells are produced and more hemoglobin is released from the spleen.

9. Increased cardiac oxygen consumption: The heart rate increases, stroke volume and cardiac output increase, the heart muscle contracts with more force, and vasodilation occurs. All these factors contribute to increased cardiac oxygen consumption.

As a result of these cardiovascular adjustments, the body can deliver the increased oxygen and nutrients that are needed for exercise.

Cardiovascular Disease - Related Articles