V02 Max Benefits to Cardiovascular Health
For those of us who generally have a healthy heart, meaning no genetic issues or damage that we’re aware of, have you ever wondered what is the actual health of your cardiovascular system? Here is some great news. There is a simple measurement for this, and it’s called VO2 Max. A high VO2 Max benefits your cardiovascular health which as a huge impact to our overall health, especially as we age. And there’s more great news. With today’s wearable devices, you can easily determine and track your cardiovascular health by checking your VO2 Max as frequently as you like.
A simple way to measure your cardiovascular health using VO2 Max
There is a simple way to measure and track your cardiovascular health. Before we delve into that, I firmly believe that if you had to choose one area of fitness to focus on for optimal health, it should be your cardiovascular health, especially as we age.
Great circulation and heart strength lead to positive outcomes, whereas poor circulation and a weak heart do not. A healthy heart and cardiovascular system can empower you to conquer mountains, both literally and figuratively.
Assessing Your Cardiovascular Health with VO2 Max
So, how do you know if you have a healthy heart and cardiovascular system? Have you heard of the term VO2 Max? It’s a scientific term that, despite my attempts to understand it, remains somewhat elusive. However, most experts agree that your VO2 Max is the best measurement for determining your cardiovascular health, and that’s good enough for me!
Most high-performance athletes who rely on their endurance can tell you their VO2 Max values and how VO2 Max benefits their athletic performance. While I may not be one of them, I care about my cardiovascular health and I track my own VO2 Max, along with whether I fall within my desired heart fitness range.
There are two ways to determine your VO2 Max:
- You can pay a fitness performance lab to assess it for you. After spending a considerable amount and undergoing a specific series of challenging cardio exercises on a treadmill set to a steep incline while breathing into tubes, you’ll receive your VO2 Max results, along with some great pictures to post.
- Alternatively, you can use your Apple or Samsung watch, or another fitness wearable like a Fitbit or Oura ring to provide your VO2 Max and other cardiovascular health insights after your workouts.
How to Determine Your VO2 Max
I use my Apple Watch to track my cardio workouts, and here’s how I do it:
I live in Scottsdale, AZ and I love hiking Camelback Mountain. To monitor and gather my cardiovascular health information, I select the Hiking Workout option on my watch. Then I go hiking. After I finish my hike, I conclude my workout by swiping to the right and ending the workout. This captures my health information for that specific exercise effort and is certainly much easier, repeatable, trackable, and more cost-effective than visits to a lab.
Next, I open my Health app on my iPhone and look for the “Show All Health Data” button.
Scroll down to the Cardio Fitness button, and there it is! Your VO2 Max and the truth about your cardio vascular health level, or at least a good estimation for us non-professional athletes.
It will also let you know what range you’re in for your age and gender.
Now tap on the Cardio Fitness button, and it will provide you with plenty of history. More importantly, this can serve as your running baseline to help you improve upon or maintain your cardiovascular health.
All sarcasm and joking aside, I take my VO2 Max measurement as seriously as a heart attack (sorry, I couldn’t help myself). Additionally, there is a wealth of helpful cardiovascular and other health information contained within this health data. Take the time to familiarize yourself with it, understand it, and use it as your baseline moving forward.
More reading on Cardiovascular Heath and VO2 Max
Here are some articles for more detailed information on cardiovascular health and VO2 Max benefits, and I hope you find this helpful.
Cardiovascular health: Powering longevity through heart-healthy living
VO2 max: What is it and how can you improve it?
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