Stamina - Balanced Hormone Clinic

What is stamina?

Stamina refers to the ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort. It is a measure of endurance over an extended period of time.

When we talk about stamina, we usually refer to:

• Cardiovascular endurance: The ability of the heart and lungs to supply oxygen-rich blood to working muscles during sustained exercise.
• Muscular endurance: The ability of a muscle or muscle group to continue contracting over a period of time without fatigue.

Factors affecting stamina

Several factors influence a person's stamina:

• Age - Stamina generally decreases with age as the cardiovascular and muscular systems become less efficient.
• Genetics - Some genetic factors predispose some people to higher natural stamina levels.
• Health status - Illnesses, obesity and poor lifestyle habits negatively impact stamina.
• Fitness level - Higher fitness levels correlate with increased stamina.

Regular exercise helps build endurance and is key to boosting stamina. Activities like running, swimming, cycling and strength training stress the cardiovascular and muscular systems. Over time, the body adapts to these stresses and becomes more efficient at supplying oxygen and clearing metabolic waste products, thereby improving overall stamina.

"A good stamina level is important for success in almost any sport or physically demanding occupation," says Dr. Hanson of Balanced Hormone Clinic.

Building stamina

Here are some tips to safely build stamina:

• Start slow - When beginning an exercise program, start at a level that feels relatively easy and gradually increase duration and intensity over several weeks. This allows the body to adapt without overtraining.
• Engage in cardio - Aerobic activities like jogging, cycling and swimming are excellent for building cardiovascular endurance.
• Strengthen muscles - Complement cardio with strength training to build muscular endurance. Squats, push-ups and planks are great examples.
• Allow proper rest and recovery between vigorous training sessions to allow the body to adapt. This may include sleep, active recovery, massage or foam rolling.
• Maintain proper hydration and nutrition to fuel workouts and recovery.

Balanced Hormone Clinic offers comprehensive hormone testing and optimization programs to help patients address hormonal imbalances that may be impacting energy levels and stamina. Contact us today for a consultation.

Building stamina takes time and consistency, but the payoffs in terms of health, quality of life and physical performance make it worth the effort. Investing in regular exercise and healthy lifestyle habits are the keys to boosting your endurance over the long haul.