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How To Increase Cardio Endurance
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Some people can stay on the treadmill for an hour, while others experience shortness of breath after climbing a few flights of stairs. Although muscle development and general physical condition play a role, the difference lies primarily in heart health.

Dr. Ely
Article author

Dr. Ely

General practitioner

Why the heart is more important than the muscles

The heart is the main muscle in the body and supplies all organs with oxygen through the cardiovascular system. This is why an untrained heart will experience quick fatigue and the person will sweat heavily after even a little bit of physical activity.

The main characteristic of the pumping function of the heart is the ejection fraction, i.e. the percentage of blood that the heart pushes out of itself per contraction (of the total volume of blood in the heart). The normal value is 55 % or more. For the heart to contract well, it needs a lot of oxygen. To do this, blood flow in the coronary arteries — the arteries of the heart — must be operating optimally under all conditions. If an area is deficient in oxygen, the vessels there "collaps...

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October 28, 2025
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