You breathe harder and faster while participating in sports because physical exertion triggers your body to increase your respiration rate. When someone participates in sports, the body burns energy more rapidly. In order to keep the muscles working properly, the lungs must be able to work more efficiently, resulting in some physiological changes in the body.
Respiration Mechanism
The purpose of respiration is to help regulate the levels of different gases in the blood. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are the two main blood gases are directly tied to breathing. When you inhale, oxygen from the air dissolves into the bloodstream, the Franklin Institute explains. At the same time, carbon dioxide in the blood is released into the lungs, which is then expelled during exhalation.
Blood Gases and Exercise
Sports cause muscles to be more active than usual, so the muscles increase their energy usage. The muscle cells do this by burning more glucose. In order to efficiently use glucose, muscle cells need oxygen molecules and release carbon dioxide molecules as a byproduct of metabolism. As a result, during sports the oxygen levels in the blood drop and carbon dioxide levels rise.
Effects
The rate of respiration is controlled by three different aspects of the blood: the amount of oxygen, the amount of carbon dioxide and the acidity of the blood, Scribd.com notes. When oxygen levels drop and carbon dioxide levels rise, the brain signals to the lungs to begin breathing faster. Sports can also cause the blood to become more acidic, as carbon dioxide in the blood is often converted to carbonic acid. This also results in an increase in respiration. In addition, the bronchioles dilate, making it easier for oxygen to get into the lungs, Dr. Behm of the University of Newfoundland explains.
Potential
When a person is at rest, respiration consists of approximately 4 percent of the body's total energy use. However, during intense physical activity, which can occur while playing sports, the amount of energy that's put into breathing can rise to between 10 percent and 20 percent, Dr. Behm reports. However, during prolonged exercise the muscles involved in respiration can become fatigued, which can reduce the amount of force available to help the lungs expand and contract.
Considerations
Respiration is also tied to another aspect of sports: muscle cramping. When muscles don't get enough oxygen to function, they are forced to change the way in which they burn glucose. This oxygen-free glucose metabolism results in the production of lactic acid. Lactic acid buildup causes muscle cramps during physical activity. As a result, proper respiration is also important to prevent muscle cramping during sports.
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