Aerobic exercise is a physical activity that uses your body’s large muscle groups, is rhythmic and repetitive. It increases your heart rate and how much oxygen your body uses. Examples of aerobic exercises include walking, cycling and swimming. It reduces your risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
What is aerobic exercise?
Aerobic exercise is a physical activity that uses large muscle groups in your body. This type of exercise is usually rhythmic and repetitive. You can adjust the intensity of your workout, which is how hard your body works during this type of exercise.
Aerobic exercises increase your heart rate and how much oxygen your body uses. The term aerobic means “with oxygen.” When you practice aerobic exercise, your breathing controls the amount of oxygen that reaches your muscles to help you burn energy and move.
What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercises?
Aerobic and anaerobic are terms that define how your body produces energy.
Aerobic means “with oxygen.” When you participate in a continuous activity that increases your heart rate, your cells use oxygen to produce energy. An example of aerobic exercise is walking.
Anaerobic means “without oxygen.” When you engage in a quick, high-intensity activity, your cells aren’t using oxygen to produce energy. An example of an anaerobic exercise is lifting weights.
What are examples of aerobic exercises?
There are a lot of different types of aerobic exercises. Some of the most common include:
- Walking or jogging.
- Cycling.
- Cardio equipment.
- Swimming.