X

We detected that you're visiting our site from the UK. Would you like to visit the ChaCha UK website?

Cardio

Cardio

Cardio is short for cardiovascular -- having to do with the heart and blood circulation. Cardio exercise is necessary for keeping the heart strong and healthy, for helping to keep stress levels down, and for controlling weight.

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha.com for Cardio

In the Last:
Day | Week | Month

  1. What does cardio do?

    Cardiovascular exercise increases the work of the heart and l...

  2. Is 100 push ups and 200 sit ups everyday along with cardio enough to prepare for air force basic training?

    That will depend on the physical condition that you are in be...

  3. How many calories are burned in the cardio X DVD of P90X?

    All of the P90X workouts burn approximately 600 calories. I j...

  4. How long should I jump rope for a cardio workout?

    That depends on your health, and the workout you are able to ...

  5. How many calories does one 'insanity' pure cardio workout burn?

    You can burn up to 1,000 calories per workout on the Insanity...

  1. How many calories are burned in the cardio X DVD of P90X?

    All of the P90X workouts burn approximately 600 calories. I j...

  2. I already workout 6 days a week with mostly cardio and eat pretty healthy what else cn i do to drop weight quickly?

    We already answered that for you. Any other questions? ChaCha!

  3. How many calories does one 'insanity' pure cardio workout burn?

    You can burn up to 1,000 calories per workout on the Insanity...

  4. What does cardio do?

    Cardiovascular exercise increases the work of the heart and l...

  5. Is 100 push ups and 200 sit ups everyday along with cardio enough to prepare for air force basic training?

    That will depend on the physical condition that you are in be...

  1. Is 100 push ups and 200 sit ups everyday along with cardio enough to prepare for air force basic training?

    That will depend on the physical condition that you are in be...

  2. How many calories are burned in the cardio X DVD of P90X?

    All of the P90X workouts burn approximately 600 calories. I j...

  3. What kind of work out do you get on the cardio glide?

    Tone your shoulders, back, chest and arms while getting a gre...

  4. How many hours of cardio (sp) should i do a week to get healthier and lose weight?

    You should do cardio 5 or 6 times a week to lose weight and b...

  5. What cardio exercises can you do before bed?

    Cardio should be done during the day. Doing cardio before bed...

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha Mobile for Cardio

In the Last:
Day | Week | Month

  1. What is Cardio exercise?

    Cardiovascular exercise is exercise that raises your heart ra...

  2. Are jumping jacks considered cardio?

    This traditional exercise can still be a challenging exercise...

  3. What are some good cardio exercises?

    Biking, running, stair climbing, dancing, jumping rope, playi...

  4. What is a cardio workout?

    Cardio is short for cardiovascular, which refers to the heart...

  5. How long does it take to improve your cardio vascular endurance?

    By gradually increasing your cardiovascular work out to invol...

  1. What is Cardio exercise?

    Cardiovascular exercise is exercise that raises your heart ra...

  2. What are some cardio exercises?

    Walking, Jogging, Cycling, Rowing, Jumping Rope, Cross Traine...

  3. What are some cardio workouts I can do at home?

    Here are some cardio workouts that you can try at home: Danci...

  4. What is a cardio workout?

    Cardio is short for cardiovascular, which refers to the heart...

  5. What is some cardio workouts?

    Some good cardio exercises are running, biking, rowing, walki...

  1. How do I do a cardio workout that burns tons of calories?

    There's no 'right' cardio exercise and the best choice is the...

  2. What is cardio? Or aerobics?

    Cardio is short for cardiovascular exercise which means reall...

  3. Is bike riding cardio?

    Yes! Cardio is exercise that is good for the heart, and bikin...

  4. What are some good cardio exercises?

    Biking, running, stair climbing, dancing, jumping rope, playi...

  5. What does cardio exercising do for your body?

    Cardio exercise gives energy to the body, prevents disease, c...

About Cardio

Cardio is term used that is short for cardiovascular’, which refers to the heart. Cardiovascular exercise is exercise that raises your heart rate and keeps it elevated for a certain period of time. Aerobic exercise is another name for a cardiovascular workout. The kinds of exercise that are associated with cardiovascular workouts are things like jogging, fast walking, and swimming where there is no break in the routine.

Some top reasons to include cardio in your workout routine are:

It strengthens the heart
It strengthens the lungs and increases the lung capacity
It boosts the metabolism which helps burn calories, and helps you lose weight
It helps reduce stress
It increases energy
It promotes restful sleep

There is a good rule of thumb about doing cardio: You should be able to talk during your workout. If you are too winded to speak comfortably, your heart rate is probably too high and you need to slow down.

To get the most out of a cardio workout, you will first want to figure out what your maximum heart rate (beats per minute) is. To do that, subtract your age from 226 for women or 220 for men. You don't want to workout at your maximum heart rate, you want to workout in your target heart rate zone. You would calculate more toward 50 percent if you are just getting into shape and more toward 75 percent if you are in great shape.

Here is a sample calculation for a 40-year-old woman just getting started in cardio workouts. 226 - 40 (her age) = 180 maximum heart rate (beats per minute)180 x .50 = 90 heart beats per minute as her target heart rateTo make it easy on yourself when you are working out, figure the number of beats you need in just 10 seconds. That will be your target heart rate divided by 6. In our sample case, 90 divided by 6 is 15. She will want to count 15 beats in 10 seconds to be at her target heart rate.

To figure out how many times your heart is beating in a minute, place two fingers at the back corner of your lower jaw and then slide down an inch or so until you feel your pulse through the carotid artery in your neck. Count the number of beats in 10 seconds and then multiply by 6 to get your beats per minute. A heart rate monitor can be a very useful tool as you develop your cardio workouts. They save a lot of pulse counting and calculation time.

How long your cardio sessions should be depends on your level of fitness and your goals. The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the American College of Sports Medicine, recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity five days per week, or at least 20 minutes of vigorous activity 3 days per week.

To workout safely, if you are overweight or have other health issues, make sure to consult with your healthcare professional before beginning a cardio program.

Created by vickiz

Recent Cardio Questions

PREV 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... NEXT
10,030 Answers
Advertisement
›
›
›
›
Cardio