What is cardio?

“Cardio” comes from the Greek word “kardía,” which means heart. Simply put, exercise typically counts as cardio if it involves intentional coordinated physical actions that raise your heart rate for an extended period of time.

A good cardiovascular workout will have you consistently breathing faster than you would while resting. The result: More oxygen in your blood for your heart to pump to the rest of your body.

You’ll also hear cardio referred to as “aerobic exercise.” The term emphasizes the enhanced movement and utilization of oxygen for energy production when you’re engaged in a cardiovascular workout.

While not an exhaustive list, all of the activities below fall into the category of cardiovascular exercise:

Cycling.

Running or jogging.

Rowing.

Swimming.

Walking and hiking.

Cross-country skiing.

You can also use machines like ellipticals, steppers, treadmills and rowing machines (ergometers) to get the cardio your body craves.

Keep in mind that — even if you happen to miss your cardio exercise session for the day — certain everyday tasks like cleaning, gardening and mowing the lawn can also count as heart-benefitting physical activity.