Heart getting efficient

We all know that when our legs need more muscle fibers that mitochondria is the what gets created.

But what about the heart? That durn muscle is so efficient at getting stronger, but does it get bigger? Just how does the heart get efficient. Thanks.

The heart itself doesn't get more efficient. It pumps a relatively constant amount of blood with each beat. What happens is that all the other systems (particularly the capillaries) become more efficient at carrying oxygen throughout your body, therefore requring your heart to pump less frequently to get oxygen distributed throughout your body. Hence, the better shape you get in, the same heart rate will allow you to go faster at the same amount of effort than you could prior to the improvement in fitness.

ounce wrote:We all know that when our legs need more muscle fibers that mitochondria is the what gets created.

But what about the heart? That durn muscle is so efficient at getting stronger, but does it get bigger? Just how does the heart get efficient. Thanks.

If that was the case, my heart would be HUGE!!

mul21 wrote:The heart itself doesn't get more efficient. It pumps a relatively constant amount of blood with each beat. What happens is that all the other systems (particularly the capillaries) become more efficient at carrying oxygen throughout your body, therefore requring your heart to pump less frequently to get oxygen distributed throughout your body. Hence, the better shape you get in, the same heart rate will allow you to go faster at the same amount of effort than you could prior to the improvement in fitness.

What makes you run crappy @145-155 BPM but makes you run like the wind @ 160-172 BPM?

mul21 wrote:The heart itself doesn't get more efficient. It pumps a relatively constant amount of blood with each beat.

Well, not exactly true. Exercise does improve stroke volume, the amount of blood pumped with each beat. Prolonged aerobic exercise does make the heart more efficient, and usually results in a lower resting heart rate.

beanrunner wrote:

mul21 wrote:The heart itself doesn't get more efficient. It pumps a relatively constant amount of blood with each beat. What happens is that all the other systems (particularly the capillaries) become more efficient at carrying oxygen throughout your body, therefore requring your heart to pump less frequently to get oxygen distributed throughout your body. Hence, the better shape you get in, the same heart rate will allow you to go faster at the same amount of effort than you could prior to the improvement in fitness.

What makes you run crappy @145-155 BPM but makes you run like the wind @ 160-172 BPM?

Poor aerobic conditioning.

Mr MattM wrote:

mul21 wrote:The heart itself doesn't get more efficient. It pumps a relatively constant amount of blood with each beat.

Well, not exactly true. Exercise does improve stroke volume, the amount of blood pumped with each beat. Prolonged aerobic exercise does make the heart more efficient, and usually results in a lower resting heart rate.

I always find it interesting that the heart doesn't lie. Whenever I go in to see any sort of health care provider and they check my heart rate, I always get the same response...."You must be a runner."..that's even before they ask any questions about my exercise/eating habits. My heart tells them the story without me having to say a word.

KathyK wrote:

Mr MattM wrote:

mul21 wrote:The heart itself doesn't get more efficient. It pumps a relatively constant amount of blood with each beat.

Well, not exactly true. Exercise does improve stroke volume, the amount of blood pumped with each beat. Prolonged aerobic exercise does make the heart more efficient, and usually results in a lower resting heart rate.

I always find it interesting that the heart doesn't lie. Whenever I go in to see any sort of health care provider and they check my heart rate, I always get the same response...."You must be a runner."..that's even before they ask any questions about my exercise/eating habits. My heart tells them the story without me having to say a word.

Also the running shoes and jacket are a dead give away.