Cardiovascular Heart Rate

Your heart and circulatory system perform several vital functions. Blood pumped by your heart will deliver oxygen to all of the cells in your body. It will also help the body get rid of waste and carbon dioxide. According to MayoClinic.com, a normal heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute depending on your age and level of fitness.

Significance

Your heart is a relatively small organ, weighing about 10 ounces. Yet, despite its diminutive size, it pumps blood to an estimated 60,000 miles of blood vessels, estimates Gerard Tortora, author of "Principles of Anatomy and Physiology." It works ceaselessly, pumping 1,800 gallons of blood a day. The cardiovascular heart rate is a measure of how hard the heart is working at any given time. You can find your heart rate simply by taking your pulse.

Considerations

Several factors can influence the rate at which your heart beats. It will be lowest when you are sleeping. Your resting heart rate measures the how fast the heart is beating when you are inactive. Environmental influences such as heat may cause your heart to beat faster. If you are feeling anxious or nervous, your heart rate will reflect your mood. Stimulants such as caffeine can also increase the rate. You can lower your heart rate through stress-reducing practices such as yoga.

Effects

Disease can also impact your cardiovascular heart rate. Hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis is the formation of plaque along the inside of the blood vessels. Over time, this build-up will narrow the diameter of the blood vessels, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood. High blood pressure will also raise your heart rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that one in three Americans have this chronic health condition.

Exercise

Regular exercise both increases and decreases your cardiovascular heart rate. When you exercise, your heart will pump faster to deliver oxygen to your muscles. Over time, the efficiency of your heart will increase because of its added strength and other physiological changes. The result is a lower resting heart rate. The lower rate reflects the increased effectiveness of your cardiovascular system.

Prevention/Solution

To keep your blood pressure and heart rate normal, regular exercise is essential. In addition to strengthening your body, it will also help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce added strain on your heart. You can prevent chronic diseases, which can impair heart function, by eating a healthy diet. The American Heart Association recommends a diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as lean meats and whole grains.