Cardiovascular Exercises - continued

Cardiovascular exercises have many positive effects on your health. Some of these are:

• Increase the strength of your heart muscle
• Increase the strength of the muscles that help you breathe
• Decrease your blood pressure and heart rate
• Decrease your cholesterol
• Increase your whole body's strength and endurance
• Increased your body's resistance to infection
• Decrease feelings of being "stressed", increase your sense of well being, and increase your concentration
  

Cardiovascular exercises can be activities like biking, walking, running, swimming, and much more. They need to increase your heart rate and keep it elevated for 20 - 40 minutes of exercise. There are many health conditions that require a change in this exercise regimen. Some conditions may require an easier exercise, less time doing exercises, changes to make the exercise safer, or professional supervision. Physical therapists are very knowledgeable about illnesses and injuries and can educate their patients about the safest mode of cardiovascular exercise for them. They can also help their patients learn methods to fit exercise into their lifestyle.