Exercise and Homeostasis Activities

Homeostasis is defined as maintaining a stable environment or balance, and your body must maintain a stable internal environment for cells and organs to function properly. Many factors can disrupt homeostasis, including exercise. Exercise induces physiological changes within your body that your body must counteract to maintain homeostasis. In addition, your body will adapt and become more efficient at maintaining homeostasis as a result of regular, repeated exercise.

  1. Heart Rate

    • During exercise, your muscles need more oxygen than they do when at rest in order to function properly. Your heart is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to your muscles, and during exercise, your heart rate increases to deliver more oxygen to your muscles. Engaging in regular exercise strengthens your heart muscle. This allows your heart to pump more blood per beat, so your heart does not need to beat as quickly to supply enough blood to your muscles. Regular exercise can lower both your resting and exercise heart rate.

    Breathing Rate

    • Your lungs are responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. During exercise, your breathing rate increases to rapidly oxygenate the blood, which your heart will then deliver to your muscles. In response to regular exercise, your body begins to exchange and supply oxygen to your muscles more efficiently, and in turn, your breathing rate during exercise and at rest will decrease.

    Metabolism

    • Your muscles need the oxygen in the blood in order to break down nutrients from your diet into energy. Carbohydrates and sugars are your body's main energy sources. It is important to take in enough calories to supply your body with energy during exercise, and your body will begin to break down fats and proteins when carbohydrates and sugars are not present.

    Body Temperature

    • As the name implies, "burning" calories during exercise generates heat inside your body, and as a result, your core body temperature will increase. Your body responds by producing sweat to evaporate and lower your core temperature. Dehydration and exercising in extreme heat can further contribute to increased body temperature. When your body cannot cool itself through sweating, heat stroke can occur, resulting in shock and in some cases, death.