Question 1
Discuss changes in the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems that result from conditioning for exercise.Question 2
List and discuss the benefits of exercise, especially related to decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.Answer 1
Pulmonary ventilation rate increases immediately with onset of exercise, due to feedforward responses that originate with muscle and joint proprioceptors. These receptors send signals to the motor cortex, which affects the respiratory control center. The cardiovascular control center is also affected, resulting in generalized sympathetic discharge, which causes widespread vasoconstriction, increasing systemic blood pressure. Other effects include increased cardiac output and vasodilation in vessels of skeletal muscle to increase blood flow.Answer 2
Benefits include decreased systemic blood pressure and resting heart rate, decreased plasma triglycerides, and increased plasma HDLs.