Cardiovascular Fitness Definition

Cardiovascular fitness is sometimes referred to as "Cardiovascular endurance" because a person who has this type of fitness can do physical exercise for long periods of time without fatigue. It has also been referred to as "cardiorespiratory fitness" because it requires delivery and use of oxygen, which is only possible if the circulatory and respiratory systems are capable of these functions. Cardiorespiratory endurance is the capacity of the heart and lungs to deliver blood and oxygen to the working muscles during exercise.

The term aerobic fitness has also been used as a synonym for cardiovascular fitness because aerobic capacity is considered to be the best indicator of cardiovascular fitness and aerobic exercise is the best type of exercise to achieve. Physical activities classified as aerobic exercise are best explained as rhythmic, large muscle activity of low to moderately high intensity that can be sustained without fatigue for at least 15 minutes.

Cardiovascular fitness is considered by many to be the most important component of physical fitness. Those who are cardiovascularly fit have a decreased risk of heart disease, the number one killer in our society.

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