The role of exercise in cardiovascular rehabilitation: a review.
The epidemiological literature supports an inverse association and a dose-response gradient between exercise training and both cardiovascular disease in general and coronary artery disease in particular. An overwhelming number of studies has supported similar findings for hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obesity, diabetes, inflammatory and coagulation markers related to cardiovascular disease and cardiac heart failure. Findings are highly suggestive that endurance type exercise training, of moderate intensity most days of the week can lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension, can decrease triglyceride levels and increase HDL cholesterol levels in patients with dyslipidaemia, reduces body weight when combined with diet, improves insulin sensitivity, modifies the inflammatory process and finally can improve stroke volume and reduce cardiomegaly in patients with cardiac heart failure.
Koutroumpi
Matina
M
First Cardiology Clinic, University of Athens, Greece. mkoutroumpi@yahoo.com
Pitsavos
Christos
C
Stefanadis
Christodoulos
C
D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D010807:Physical Endurance