One of the physiological effects of working out is that your heart rate will increase as you exercise. Understanding why that is and what effect it is having on your body and your overall conditioning will help you ensure that your workouts are as effective as they can be.
Working Out
Your heart is responsible for pumping blood to your entire body. As your workout intensifies, the demand for blood becomes greater, causing your heart to pump more often to meet this demand. If the demand becomes too great, you will begin to feel dizzy or light-headed because your heart is not able to pump blood fast enough. Stop your workout and rest if this happens. Call for medical attention if the feeling persists.
Resting Rate
To understand what is happening to your body during a workout, start by getting an accurate reading of your resting heart rate. This, the Topend Sports website instructs, should be measured in beats per minute just after you awake in the morning, preferably while you're still lying in bed. Do this for three to five days and write down the results. Take the average to get your resting rate. Typically, the lower your resting heart rate, the better condition you are in.
Monitoring Rates
As you work out, your heart rate will begin to increase. You want your heart to beat fast enough to make your workout worthwhile, but not so fast that it becomes dangerous to your health. The MarathonGuide.com website suggests using a heart monitor to track your heart rate during exercise, noting that the device is far more reliable than you doing it yourself. Using a monitor will let you know whether you need to pick up the intensity or take it down a notch.
Zones
Working in the proper heart rate zone will help you achieve your fitness goals. To determine your target zone, subtract your age from 220. This is your maximum heart rate. Multiply that number by the prescribed percentage to determine your target zone. Those zones are: 60 to 70 percent, or the recovery zone; 70 to 80 percent, or the aerobic zone; and 80 to 90 percent, or the anaerobic zone. Each zone has different effects on your fitness, the Brian Mac Sports Coach website explains --- exercising in the recovery zone burns fat and boosts endurance, for example, while the aerobic zone improves your body's ability to deliver oxygen.
Conclusion
Your heart rate will increase as you work out, which will pump the necessary amount of blood to your muscles to allow you to continue working. The more intense your workout, the more blood will pump, at least to a point. Monitor your heart rate and work within your target range. A benefit of this will be that your resting heart will begin to lower, meaning that your physical conditioning is improving. Consult your doctor before beginning any new exercise regimen, and discuss your heart rate.
Member Comments