How is cardiac output (CO) calculated?

Cardiac output (CO) is an essential measure of the heart's efficiency in pumping blood throughout the body and is calculated by multiplying the stroke volume (SV) by the heart rate (HR). Stroke volume refers to the amount of blood pumped out of the heart with each beat, while heart rate indicates the number of heartbeats per minute. Thus, the formula for cardiac output highlights that CO reflects both the volume of blood being circulated with each contraction of the heart and the frequency of those contractions.

By understanding this calculation, one can gauge the overall performance of the cardiovascular system during various states, such as rest and exercise, making it an important metric in both fitness and clinical settings. Additionally, knowing how to manipulate heart rate or stroke volume through training or interventions can help individuals improve their cardiac performance over time.