Why does exercise increase heart rate

During exercise, your body may need three or four times your normal cardiac output, because your muscles need more oxygen when you exert yourself. During exercise, your heart typically beats faster so that more blood gets out to your body.

Your heart can also increase its stroke volume by pumping more forcefully or increasing the amount of blood that fills the left ventricle before it pumps. Generally speaking, your heart beats both faster and stronger to increase cardiac output during exercise.

Sufficient cardiac output helps keep blood pressure at the levels needed to supply oxygen-rich blood to your brain and other vital organs. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: Rakesh K. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.

Learn how we develop our content. As your exercise, your heart contracts faster and increases blood circulation, resulting in oxygenated blood, reaching the muscles more quickly. As the body moves, it requires more oxygen; hence the heart will have to meet the demand by pumping more blood, which increases the heart rate. Exercise will result in long-term benefits. Some of them are lower resting heart rate, ability to perform deep breaths, increased calories burn, and reduced heart disease risk.

It also helps you manage your cholesterol and weight loss. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Updated visitor guidelines. You are here Home » Cardiac Output.

Top of the page. Topic Overview For the body to function properly, the heart needs to pump blood at a sufficient rate to maintain an adequate and continuous supply of oxygen and other nutrients to the brain and other vital organs.

What is a normal cardiac output? When does the body need a higher cardiac output? Why is maintaining cardiac output so important? Related Information Heart Failure.

Normal physiology of the cardiovascular system. In V Fuster et al.