As you exercise, you can feel your heart rate increase. Measuring your heart rate tells you how intense your workout is. You are experiencing your muscles calling on your heart to supply them with the ingredients to manufacture extra energy.
Your Heart at Rest
Blood is continually flowing through your arteries and veins. Oxygenated blood flows out into your arteries. The oxygen is consumed by your muscles and organs, and replaced with carbon dioxide and waste products. The blood then returns via the veins to the right side of your heart. From here, your blood travels into your lungs, to discharge the carbon dioxide and other waste products, and recharge with fresh oxygen. Next, it flows into the left heart chambers and out into your body to repeat the circuit.
Your Heart at Work
As you begin to exercise, your muscles begin to warm up. They are calling for more energy, and they need to get rid of the heat they are creating. The heart muscle begins to work faster. More oxygenated blood flows to the muscles, and more de-oxygenated blood is returned to be processed. As the intensity of exercise increases, the rate of your heart also increases. A process called vasodilation takes place. This process allows your blood vessels to carry even more blood to your muscles.
High Intensity Exercise
Harder exercise demands more oxygen. Your heart beats faster to keep your muscles supplied with the oxygen to convert to energy. As your blood vessels dilate, they allow more oxygenated blood to flow to the muscles to keep them working. Your heart rate continues to increase to meet the demands of the muscles. Your rapid heart rate means that more blood is flowing to your muscles to help them meet the demands exercise is placing on them.
Slowing Down
As you finish your workout, your muscles are still creating extra energy. As they cool down, the process begins to reverse. Blood vessels return to normal and your muscles stop receiving extra blood. Your heart rate stays elevated for a short period after your workout to keep the extra carbon dioxide and waste products from building up. After this is completed, your heart rate returns to normal.
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