Importance of Optimizing Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Early Adulthood and Through Midlife

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States, contributing to poor quality of life and disability. 1 Sedentary lifestyle, a reversible CVD risk factor, has been found to be associated with increase CVD morbidity and mortality.Regular physical activity increases the ability of the circulatory and respiratory systems to supply oxygen to skeletal muscle mitochondria for energy production (ie, cardiorespiratory fitness).A 1989 study 2 found that individuals with higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness had lower death rates, independently of their age, smoking status, blood pressure, lipids, diabetes, and personal and parental history of CVD.Therefore, interventions to help people be active, avoid nicotine exposure, eat a heart-healthy diet, get appropriate sleep, and control glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol may improve and maintain their cardiovascular health.