Staying in shape is extremely important for the body’s overall health. Utilizing a public gym is a great way to achieve this goal. Cardiovascular refers to the heart (cardio) and the surrounding blood vessels (vascular). The heart and surrounding blood vessels transport oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally. This disease affects nearly half of adults in the United States. Exercising regularly is a great way to prevent any future cardiovascular problems. Exercising or participating in physical activity for around 30 to 60 minutes a day will significantly reduce factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity, which all contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease. A public gym is a place where people of all fitness levels, ages, and goals can go to access a variety of equipment and find what types of exercises work best for them. From treadmills for conditioning to dumbbells for strength training, public gyms have it all. Studies have shown that a combination of both aerobic exercise and strength training is the most effective way to prevent any heart-related problems. Regular exercise can make the heart healthier, which leads to improved circulation and a lower risk to long term disease.
Cardio has a significant effect on everyone who participates in it. Each and every person who has done cardio themselves can tell you that it has benefited them in their own specific way. Jake Haas, a student at Pennridge High School who actively attends the gym, stated, “I have noticed my cardiovascular health has improved significantly since I started doing cardio at the gym. I noticed that I am not as out of breath at times as I used to be. When I am out of breath, it doesn’t take long to recover.” Haas’s experience supports the science behind it. When the heart is being consistently trained, it takes less effort to perform these simple tasks because the heart has gotten stronger. Gavin Stassi is another student at Pennridge High School who is actively at the gym. He stated, “I enjoy doing cardio at the end of my lifts. It is a nice cool down, and I definitely feel a lot better after a good walk on the treadmill.” Stassi’s experiences bring out another benefit of cardio: lowering stress. After a vigorous workout, cardio is a great way to relieve yourself and calm down. This process also lowers your blood pressure. Haas and Stassi are not only benefiting their appearance when they put in effort at the gym, but they are also hugely benefiting their overall health by reducing the strain that is put on their heart.
The journey to having a healthy heart is something that should be prioritized throughout someone’s whole life. Attending the gym is a great way for all ages to strive for a long and healthy life. Cardio has noticeable benefits like breath control and recovery times, but also internal benefits like lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It is important to remember these things that you may not be able to notice as easily. Cardiovascular disease is something that can be prevented if given the effort, and this prevention is extremely worthwhile.
Sources:
https://chronicdisease.org/cardiovascularhealth/#:~:text=Cardiovascular%20health%20refers%20to%20the,arrhythmias%2C%20and%20heart%20valve%20problems”>https://chronicdisease.org/cardiovascularhealth/#:~:text=Cardiovascular%20health%20refers%20to%20the,arrhythmias%2C%20and%20heart%20valve%20problems
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21493-cardiovascular-disease”>https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21493-cardiovascular-disease
https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/use-strength-training-to-help-ward-off-chronic-disease
