When you walk the treadmill or take the stairs, you force muscles to perform work. Oxygen serves as a source of fuel for muscles, so as you walk faster and longer, the body's need for oxygen rises. basketball shoes store According to the Montana State University, oxygen consumption is proportional to heart rate. In other words, the more oxygen you need, the faster your heart will pump. Eventually, you reach your maximum heart rate, which is the fastest rate at which your heart can pump properly.

At Rest

Moderate-intensity activity, like walking, increases the heart rate during the activity but lowers the heart rate at rest. As you walk more, the heart becomes stronger, pumping more blood through the body with less effort. Other changes in the arteries and nervous system also improve the efficiency of blood transportation. These exercise-induced changes result in a lower resting heart rate because your heart doesn't have to pump as quickly to supply oxygen to the muscles in the body.

Stairs vs. Treadmill

Walking the treadmill and climbing stairs both serve as healthy activities that increase heart rate, but the two have differences. james harden shoes Climbing the stairs is more difficult because you're pushing up your weight against gravity. According to MayoClinic, a 160-pound man who walks briskly for one hour burns about 314 calories; that same man would burn about 657 calories climbing up a stair treadmill. Clearly, climbing the stairs is more taxing on the body and would elevate the heart rate faster than walking on a level treadmill. Climbing stairs has disadvantages, though. For example, walking down the stairs has an impact six or seven times greater than that of your own body weight.

Significance

Walking on the treadmill and climbing stairs are beneficial exercises that promote overall health. Raising your heart rate for at least 30 minutes can lower cholesterol, improve blood pressure, prevent heart disease and stabilize blood sugar. basketball shoes sale It can also prevent certain cancers like breast cancer and colon cancer. Regular activity can even help improve your mood when you're down in the dumps.