Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Responses to Exercise

The chapter Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Responses to Exercise reviews the changes in cardiac function when called upon to increase its output of oxygenated blood during exercise. A deep understanding of exercise physiology enhances one’s ability to understand the pathophysiology of ischemia and coronary artery disease (CAD) inherent in the performance of stress testing. With the onset of exercise, the body exhibits an almost immediate response through alterations in heart rate, preload, contractility, stroke volume, and coronary blood flow, all to compensate for augmented metabolic demands. Individual characteristics such as age, sex, and fitness impact a person’s physiological response to exertion. Differences in exercise modality, duration, intensity, and frequency will provoke unique responses, which can be utilized to design exercise prescriptions specific to a patient’s goals and medical needs.