Living a Healthy Life -- Wellness and Physical Fitness
Classes:
Introduction > Take the Test > Nutrition and Meal Preparation > Exercise and Physical Fitness > Prevention and Regular Check-Ups > Special Considerations > Conclusion
Types of Exercise > Common Terms > General Guidelines For Exercise > Maintaining a Healthy Weight > Quick Tips for Exercise On the Go!
Common Terms
There are a number of common terms people use when discussing exercise and exercise programs. A few of these are listed below:Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure measures how well your heart is pumping blood throughout your body. Many healthcare and fitness facilities have instruments that measure your blood pressure. Blood pressure in people varies depending upon their age, weight, and other health factors, so it's important to have a healthcare professional take your blood pressure and explain what it means. While exercise is a great way to reduce high blood pressure (which is bad for your health), if you have extremely high or low blood pressure, you may want to avoid certain exercises.
Duration
Duration refers to how long you exercise in one exercise period. How long you exercise may depend upon your health and what type of exercise you are doing, but most experts recommend you exercise at least 20 minutes a day.
Frequency
Frequency refers to how often you exercise. Again, this may depend upon your health and the type of exercise you do, but most experts recommend you exercise at least three days a week.
Heart Rate
Your heart rate is how many times your heart beats a minute. You can figure out your heart rate by counting your pulse (either at your neck or wrist) for 15 seconds then multiplying this by four. It is important to know your heart rate when exercising because you want to keep your heart in your "target zone" when doing cardiovascular exercise (and want to avoid reaching your "maximum heart rate" and hurting yourself). There are different formulas for figuring out what your target zone and maximum heart rate should be, but these depend on your age, weight, and general health, so it's best to work with a doctor or healthcare provider when figuring out your target and maximum heart rates. They can also show you how to take your pulse and figure out your heart rate.
Intensity
When people use the term 'intensity' when discussing exercise, they are often referring to how hard the workout or exercise is. If you are doing an exercise that is 'high intensity' you are working your heart (in the case of cardiovascular exercise) or muscles (in the case of strength-training) very hard. Lower intensity workouts don't work you as hard. In general, when starting a new exercise program start with lower intensity workouts to avoid injury - you can always increase the intensity as you become more fit.
Impact
Similar to intensity, when people discuss 'impact' they are referring to how hard the workout or exercise is. The term impact is often used in cardiovascular exercise and refers to how much pressure the exercise puts on your body (especially your joints). Many clubs offer low-impact exercise classes such as low-impact aerobics or yoga. Again, it's better to avoid high impact exercises (especially aerobics and running) when starting a new exercise program because these can lead to injury.
Next: General Guidelines For Exercise
