Modern science has revealed that the body is an intricate, self-maintaining system. Any change that happens to one part of that system affects other parts. Both your respiratory and circulatory systems are intimately connected to your metabolism. It is important to understand exactly how the body changes affect the energy you feel.
Significance
According to the Mayo Clinic, metabolism is the process that determines how much energy your body makes from the food and drink that you consume. Scientifically, it is the set of chemical reactions that facilitate and maintain life. The speed at which metabolism occurs is a function of several factors, including age, gender, body composition and physical activity.
Function
Your body meets any increase in energy output, such as through exercise, with a corresponding change in the production of energy by your cells, which increases your metabolism. However, cells first need oxygen to construct a usable form of energy that sustains all physical activity. The cells don't have access to oxygen directly, so they need to rely on a complex transportation system.
Respiratory System
Inside both lungs there are tiny hollow cavities called alveoli that are wrapped tightly in a series of capillaries. According to the Franklin Institute, there are about 600 million alveoli in the lungs. Once you breathe in oxygen, this is where the actual gas exchange occurs. Oxygen diffuses straight into the blood in exchange for carbon dioxide carried by the hemoglobin.
Circulatory System
Physical activity like exercise increases the need for oxygen and thus the speed at which the gas exchange occurs in the lungs. The heart, which is actually a muscle, begins to beat faster, pumping the oxygen-rich blood throughout the body at a quicker pace. Once this oxygen reaches the cells, it helps produce energy and facilitate the physical exertion of the body.
Efficiency
Fit, healthy individuals have a more efficient heart than individuals who are overweight or out of shape. An efficient heart needs to beat less often to produce similar amounts of energy, and reaches a resting rate faster after you have finished exercising. Exercise is one of the fundamental aspects that determine a healthy heart.
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