Do you cool down properly after exercise?
If not, you should, and here’s why:
After strenuous activity, the blood vessels in the muscles dilate to deliver more blood for the muscles to operate. The skin vessels also dilate, in order to increase heat loss from the body. This is why you look flushed after exercise.
If you don’t cool down properly, you are not giving your blood and skin vessels enough time to recover. If you then jump into a hot shower, your skin vessels will dilate even further, and your heart will go into overdrive, trying to pump blood through the body.
This means that you’re not getting enough blood to your muscles, which can cause you to become lethargic and faint.
Make sure to take at least 5 minutes to cool down after a workout.
Tags: Fitness, heart health
