The cardiovascular system responds to exercise in several ways:
1. The heart rate and stroke volume increase to elevate cardiac output and deliver more oxygen to working muscles.
2. Blood is redistributed to working muscles, increasing blood flow.
3. Blood pressure rises to maintain blood flow during increased demand.
Regular aerobic exercise improves cardiorespiratory endurance and maximum oxygen consumption, lowering risk of diseases like hypertension and coronary heart disease. The DASH diet also helps lower blood pressure through increased potassium and calcium intake.