title: The role of exercise in cardiovascular rehabilitation: a review.
abstract: 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.
authors: First Cardiology Clinic, University of Athens, Greece. mkoutroumpi@yahoo.com
authors: Matina
authors: M
authors: Koutroumpi
authors: Christos
authors: C
authors: Pitsavos
authors: Christodoulos
authors: C
authors: Stefanadis
mesh_terms: D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D010807:Physical Endurance