Long and short term affects of exercise
The short term affects of exercise are an increase in heart rate, breathing rate and systolic blood rate increases. The test we used was the step test so another short term affects was a build up of lactic acid causing the legs to hurt also the skin will become flushed.
The reasons for an increase in heart rate is that the muscles need more oxygen so the heart pumps more blood faster to keep a good level of oxygen in the muscles. A reason for the increase in the breathing rate is that because the blood is being moved at a faster rate that blood needs to be oxygenated so the lungs need to get rid of the waste and get more oxygen to the blood. An increase in systolic blood pressure is caused as the heart is pushing more blood through the veins and arteries meaning that there is more blood pushing the sides of the arteries and veins out. The reason for the flushed skin is that the capillaries due to the increase in body temp rise closer to the skin so that the heat can escape easily allowing the body to cool. finally the body sweats to so that heat can be evaporated out of the body.
The long term affects of exercise the strength of the respiratory muscles increases, the cardiac muscles increase in strength and finally because we did the step test the leg muscles will increase in strength.
The reason for an increase in the cardiac muscles is because the heart is working at a faster pace than when at rest for a long time so eventually adapts so it can easily cope with the faster rate of contraction. The reason for the respiratory muscles increasing in strength is because again they are having to work at a faster rate so adapt to cope with a faster rate of work meaning that exercise will become easier. Finally the increase in muscle strength is caused by an increase in mitochondria meaning more energy can be produced by the muscle groups which are being used.