How does exercise affect the rate of carbon dioxide production?


When we work out, the muscles we utilize require more energy. At the point when exercise can be controlled, this requirement is met essentially by aerobic means. Vigorous energy generation in muscles brings about an increase in the gas exchange rate in the lungs since more oxygen is taken in and more carbon dioxide is discharged. Your blood transports these metabolic gasses to and from your tissues.

Carbon dioxide yield depends to a great extent on the measure of energy your body is utilizing. Your body continually needs vitality for fundamental operations, for example, your heart and digestive system. This implies carbon dioxide is continually being released as well. The mechanism involved in the rise of carbon dioxide levels while working out is explained below.

Gas Exchange at Rest

  • Oxygen and carbon dioxide are both present in the atmosphere. Oxygen approximately comprises of 21 % of the air you inhale, while carbon dioxide makes up 0.03 %. When you inhale, you exchange these metabolic gasses between the surroundings and the blood in your lungs.

  • Oxygen moves into your blood, which transports it to tissues where it releases the energy from the food we eat. This releases carbon dioxide as a by-product, which must be released as a waste product by exhaling.

  • When the body is at rest, we consume 3.5 millilitres of oxygen for every kilogram of body weight per minute to fulfil the energy requirements.

  • The factors which influence the carbon dioxide production with respect to oxygen consumption are glycogen content, training patterns, muscle fiber type, fat intake, blood metabolites and iron content of our body.

Gas Exchange During Exercise

  • While working out, your body needs higher energy, which implies your tissues utilize more oxygen than they do when at rest. Utilizing more oxygen implies you will likewise produce more carbon dioxide due to the increase in your metabolic rate.

  • The ratio of carbon dioxide produced to oxygen utilized increases due to the conversion of fat to carbohydrates.

  • At extreme performances, we burn carbohydrates only and deliver 1 liter of carbon dioxide for each liter of oxygen we consume.

Non-Metabolic Carbon Dioxide

  • While at rest or performing moderate workouts, the lactic acid increment in your muscles is negligible since all that is created is also utilized.
  • When performing intense workouts, the creation of lactic acid surpasses utilization and the acid enters your blood. To keep up a normal pH in the blood, sodium bicarbonate in your blood buffers the lactic acid by separating it into water and carbon dioxide. This outcome in extra carbon dioxide is also discharged by your blood.

Updated on: 29-Apr-2022

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