How lung capacity increases when doing consistent cardio and what happens anatomically?
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Okay, let’s think about this like a balloon. When you first get a balloon, it’s small and doesn’t hold much air, right? But, the more you blow it up, the bigger it gets and the more air it can hold.
Our lungs work a bit like that too. When we do cardio exercises consistently – like running, cycling, or swimming – our lungs have to work harder, similar to how we have to blow more air into a balloon to make it bigger.
Our body responds by improving our breathing muscles and increasing the amount of air our lungs can hold. Just like how a balloon can hold more air the more you blow it up.
Additionally, our body also becomes better at using oxygen efficiently. So, not only can we breathe in more air, but our body also gets better at using that air to power our muscles. This makes us better at the exercise and less tired when we’re running, swimming, or doing other kinds of cardio.
Anatomically, your diaphragm (the major muscle responsible for breathing) and other muscles involved in breathing become stronger, which allows for deeper, more efficient breaths. Your body also improves its ability to get oxygen to your muscles by creating more capillaries, which are tiny blood vessels where oxygen is transferred from your blood to your muscles.
So, think of it as your lungs and your body becoming better, stronger balloon blowers, getting the most out of every breath you take!
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