Final answer:
Regular exercise increases the efficiency of the heart, increasing stroke volume and cardiac output. Athletes have larger hearts, enabling them to deliver more blood with a lower heart rate. Exercise also lowers cholesterol levels and reduces plaque formation, reducing blood pressure and stress on the heart.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regular exercise promotes cardiovascular health by increasing the efficiency of the heart. When we exercise, the heart is able to pump more blood with each contraction, resulting in an increased stroke volume and cardiac output. Additionally, exercise strengthens the heart muscle, allowing it to pump blood more effectively.
For example, athletes have larger hearts compared to non-athletes, which allows them to deliver the same amount of blood with a lower heart rate. This increased efficiency enables athletes to exercise for longer periods of time without fatigue, while also reducing stress on the heart.
Exercise also has benefits for the overall cardiovascular system. It lowers cholesterol levels and reduces the rate of plaque formation in arteries, which decreases blood pressure and reduces the force the heart needs to generate to overcome resistance.