title: Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Atherosclerosis: Recent Data and Future Directions.
abstract: Historically, the relationship between exercise and the cardiovascular system was viewed as unidirectional, with a disease resulting in exercise limitation and hazard. This article reviews and explores the bidirectional nature, delineating the effects, generally positive, on the cardiovascular system and atherosclerosis. Exercise augments eNOS, affects redox potential, and favorably affects mediators of atherosclerosis including lipids, glucose homeostasis, and inflammation. There are direct effects on the vasculature as well as indirect benefits related to exercise-induced changes in body composition and skeletal muscle. Application of aerobic exercise to specific populations is described, with the hope that this knowledge will move the science forward and improve individual patient outcome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, University Hospitals Health System, Mailstop LKS 5038, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106-5038, USA.|Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Emile
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mehanna
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, University Hospitals Health System, Mailstop LKS 5038, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106-5038, USA.|Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.|Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamik
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, University Hospitals Health System, Mailstop LKS 5038, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106-5038, USA. richard.josephson@uhhospitals.org.|Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA. richard.josephson@uhhospitals.org.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Josephson
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001823:Body Composition; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002319:Cardiovascular System; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010809:Physical Fitness
keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Cardiovascular disease prevention; Exercise; eNOS