Exercise improves the capacity of the lungs to draw in more oxygen from the air, and provides a host of other benefits as well. This article enlists the effects of exercise on our respiratory system.
Did You Know?
We use about 12 liters of air when at rest, and about 100 to 150 liters of air while exercising.
During rigorous physical activity, such as exercise, the body is subjected to a lot of stress. However, this stress is beneficial, and can actually help the body remain healthy. Exercise pumps the heart and lungs into prompt action, which is necessary as these vital organs need to work harder to cope with the increased demand of oxygen in the body. It provides many benefits that help improve the pulmonary function as well. While some of these benefits are felt immediately, some take a while to appear.
In this FitnessVigil article, we take a look at the short-term and long-term effects of exercise on the respiratory system.
Exercise is nothing but an elevated physical activity, due to which the muscles in the body utilize more oxygen and produce excess carbon dioxide. The lungs need to work harder to cater to this oxygen demand, as well as to eliminate the excess carbon dioxide. Hence, the breathing rate of a person increases from about 15 breaths per minute when at rest, to about 40 – 60 breaths per minute during a workout.
The tidal volume refers to the amount of air inhaled and exhaled in one breath. With exercise generating excess carbon dioxide, and with the requirement of more oxygen, the breathing rate elevates immediately after exercising. This elevated breathing rate increases the tidal volume as well.
There is a continuous exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide that takes place in the lungs. While exercising, the breathing rate increases, and the rate of gas exchange between the alveoli and capillaries is also maximized to supply oxygen and remove excess carbon dioxide.
These immediate effects of exercise increase pulmonary health and provide many long-term benefits, which are described below.
The respiratory muscles, diaphragm, and the intercostal muscles need to work harder for the inhalation and exhalation of gases to occur rapidly. Thus, they are strengthened and the chest cavity becomes larger.
Respiratory volume is the amount of air inhaled, exhaled, and stored in the lungs at any given time. It is also known as Lung Capacity. Physical activity augments the respiratory volume, and increases the volume of oxygen diffused in the cells. This increases the maximum amount of oxygen the body can use during a specified period, which is known as the aerobic capacity of the lungs.
Regular exercise increases the number of capillaries surrounding the alveoli. It also makes the capillaries dilate more, so that the gaseous exchange between the two takes place more effectively.
Long-term benefits of exercising also help improve the efficiency of the lungs by facilitating transport of oxygen to all the cells of the body. Training also increases blood flow to a large extent, which enhances the area of the lungs involved in the exchange of gases.
Elevated levels of oxygen in the body improves your ability to focus, concentrate, and keeps you alert. Exercise enhances your immune power, thus reducing the chances of contacting infections. It also is beneficial for the overall working and metabolism in the body.
Thus, if you have been procrastinating to start an exercise regime, start it now! It’s never too late to start a healthy habit, which will not only improve your physical performance, but also provide a range of mental, emotional, and social benefits.
