Fitness Tips from a Tiger

Your cardio fitness levels are something you
should definitely pay attention to. Cardio fitness
involves vital parts of the body – your heart,
lungs, muscles, blood and blood vessels. This
makes it an excellent indicator of your overall
fitness.

What Is Cardio Fitness and How is
It Measured?
Cardio fitness, or cardiorespiratory fitness, is
your body’s ability to take in, circulate and use
oxygen. It’s measured with VO2 max, which is
the maximum amount of oxygen your body is
able to use during exercise. The higher your VO
max, the more fit you are.
You should note that predictions are heavily
dependent on your age and sex.

Why You Should Be Concerned If
You’re Low
Low cardio fitness can be a predictor of long-
term issues like type 2 diabetes, colon cancer,
cardiovascular and coronary artery disease,
dementia and Alzheimer’s.

The good news is that if you raise your VO, max
now and keep it up, you improve your chances
of avoiding these issues later.
Things That Could Cause Cardio

Fitness to Go Down
It’s normal for VO2 max to decrease as you get
older. Other factors that can also cause it to
decline include:
• Becoming pregnant
• Medications or conditions that limit your heart
rate
• A significant injury or long-term Illness

Improving Your Cardio Fitness
Aerobic exercise that raises your heart rate and
gets you breathing hard will give you the biggest
boost – like running, cycling or high-intensity
interval training. And even just adding a few hills
to your daily walk can help.

When to Talk to Your Doctor
If your VOy max is in the low range and you’re
considering a big change in your exercise
routine, you may want to discuss it with your
doctor first – especially if you think an
underlying condition could be the cause.
Significant changes in any vital sign can indicate
a change in your overall health that’s worth
bringing up with your doctor.

Take a serious charge of your health and you would be getting fitter day by day.