Aerobic or cardiovascular exercise.
Aerobic or cardiovascular is a type of exercise in  which muscles consume adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This is a product of the
metabolism of fats and glucose by the use of oxygen.
Adenosine triphosphate is the basic source of energy for all cells. Aerobic exercise
increases the need of adenosine triphosphate. That means more glucose and fat are consumed to be transformed to
energy.
Aerobic exercise intensifies respiration. Fast breathing boosts the body's supply in
oxygen and increased heart pumping helps in transfer of more oxygenated blood from the
lungs to the muscles.
Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart and contributes to establishment of normal
cholesterol levels. In a long term, this
kind of physical activity increases
cardiovascular endurance.
Aerobic exercise should not be confused with aerobics. The latest is a form of aerobic
exercise but not the only one. Aerobics is very popular in women and it is a combination
of dance and stretching exercise.
Low impact, intermediate and advanced cardiovascular exercise.
Aerobic exercise is often described as a low impact, intermediate and advanced class,
in terms of intensity. A low impact class is conducted at a slow pace and it is the
easiest type of aerobic exercise. It is good for people who have just started a training
course. Walking, for instance, is a low impact aerobics exercise. An intermediate class,
such as dance and swimming, is designed for people who are active and need a higher level
of cardiovascular exercise, in order to improve and maintain their fitness. The advanced
class, also called high impact, is for fit people who want a hard workout. Long distance
running, competitive swimming, jump rope, cycling, tennis and other activities performed
at gyms are high impact aerobic exercises.
How aerobic exercise works and when anaerobic exercise starts.
Intervals of intense aerobic activity separated by recovery breaks seem to improve VO2
Max. This is the point beyond which the body can no longer increase the oxygen
consumption, regardless of the exercise intensity. If the intensity of the cardiovascular
exercise increases any further, the body discontinues the aerobic metabolism of glucose
or fat and starts to work anaerobically. The production of adenosine triphosphate stops
and lactic acid is produced instead. When lactic acid builds-up to certain level, it
results in painful, burning muscle sensation. This level is called "anaerobic threshold"
and varies according to a person's fitness. The fitter the body the higher the anaerobic
threshold is.
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