Focus on: Promotion of Cardiovascular Health (IV)
Physical Exercise and HealthEjercicio físico y salud

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rec.2014.04.005Get rights and content

Abstract

Regular physical exercise is an established recommendation for preventing and treating the main modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Performing physical activity of moderate intensity for a minimum of 30 min 5 days a week or of high intensity for a minimum of 20 min 3 days a week improves functional capacity and is associated with reductions in the incidence of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Physical exercise induces physiological cardiovascular adaptations that improve physical performance, and only in extreme cases can these adaptations lead to an increased risk of physical exercise-associated complications. The incidence of sudden death or serious complications during physical exercise is very low and is concentrated in people with heart diseases or with pathological cardiac adaptation to exercise. Most of these cases can be detected by cardiology units or well-trained professionals.

Resumen

La práctica regular de ejercicio físico es una recomendación establecida para prevenir y tratar los principales factores de riesgo cardiovascular modificables, como la diabetes mellitus, la hipertensión y la dislipemia. Realizar actividad física de intensidad moderada durante un mínimo de 30 min 5 días por semana o de intensidad alta durante un mínimo de 20 min 3 días por semana mejora la capacidad funcional y se asocia a reducciones en la incidencia de enfermedad cardiovascular y mortalidad. El ejercicio físico induce adaptaciones fisiológicas cardiovasculares que mejoran el rendimiento físico, y solo en casos extremos pueden conducir a un riesgo aumentado de complicaciones asociadas al ejercicio físico. La incidencia de muerte súbita o complicaciones graves durante la práctica de ejercicio físico es muy baja, se concentra en las personas con cardiopatías o con adaptación cardiaca muy patológica al ejercicio y la mayoría de estos casos los pueden detectar unidades de cardiología o profesionales bien instruidos.

Section snippets

INTRODUCTION

The human body, and particularly the cardiovascular system, is the result of an evolutionary process aimed at increasing resistance to the environment. Current understanding of the physiology of different species indicates that humans developed their systems evolutionarily, compared with reptiles, amphibians, and even other mammals, to become more resistant to a lack of food or water and prolonged physical activity.1 However, the progressive increase in life expectancy and certain lifestyle and

EPIDEMIOLOGY

A sedentary lifestyle is defined as one that does not comply with the recommendations for the practice of physical activity of moderate intensity for a minimum of 30 min 5 days a week or of high intensity for a minimum of 20 min 3 days a week.9 In recent decades, the prevalence of sedentary individuals has slightly decreased; although somewhat contrasting data have been reported, between 20% and 40% of the population can be considered sedentary.10, 11, 12, 13 Moreover, although knowledge of

PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS OF SPORT

Physical exercise is defined as any body movements produced by the locomotor system to contract and relax muscles that involve energy consumption. This movement generally increases oxygen and nutrient use by the muscles. Muscle adaptation to exercise is the basis of exercise training, and is measured both by the adaptation and development of muscle fibers and by changes in their metabolism, chiefly in mitochondria.17 Muscle adaptation is a complex and poorly understood process that involves

SAFETY IN SPORT

Improved reporting and awareness of sports-related deaths and cardiac arrests have generated a growing concern over safety during physical activity. Sudden death is the most serious event that can occur during physical activity and poses the greatest preventive challenge for professionals who recommend physical exercise and who supervise athletes. A suggested representative diagram of the relationship between the amount of exercise and the risk of cardiovascular disease or serious

CONCLUSIONS

Sport has a wide variety of beneficial effects on health, many of which are related to protection against cardiovascular diseases.

CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS

None declared.

References (48)

  • A. Boraita Pérez

    Ejercicio, piedra angular de la prevención cardiovascular

    Rev Esp Cardiol.

    (2008)
  • J.A. De Velasco et al.

    Nuevos datos sobre la prevención secundaria del infarto de miocardio en España. Resultados del estudio PREVESE II

    Rev Esp Cardiol.

    (2002)
  • G.A. Kelley et al.

    Aerobic exercise and HDL2-C: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

    Atherosclerosis.

    (2006)
  • J.A. De Velasco et al.

    Programa de intervención para mejorar la prevención secundaria del infarto de miocardio. Resultados del estudio PRESENTE (PREvención SEcuNdaria TEmprana)

    Rev Esp Cardiol.

    (2004)
  • S. Victor et al.

    Evolutionary anticipation of the human heart

    Ann R Coll Surg Engl.

    (2000)
  • E. Braunwald

    Shattuck lecture—cardiovascular medicine at the turn of the millennium: triumphs, concerns, and opportunities

    N Engl J Med.

    (1997)
  • A.S. Go et al.

    Heart disease and stroke statistics—2013 update: a report from the American Heart Association

    Circulation.

    (2013)
  • L. Ryden et al.

    ESC Guidelines on diabetes, pre-diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases developed in collaboration with the EASD: the Task Force on diabetes, pre-diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and developed in collaboration with the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)

    Eur Heart J.

    (2013)
  • G. Mancia et al.

    ESH/ESC guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension: the Task Force for the Management of Arterial Hypertension of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

    Eur Heart J.

    (2013)
  • Z. Reiner et al.

    ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias: the Task Force for the management of dyslipidaemias of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS)

    Eur Heart J.

    (2011)
  • G. Varela-Moreiras et al.

    Documento de consenso y conclusiones. Obesidad y sedentarismo en el siglo xxi: ¿qué se puede y se debe hacer?

    Nutr Hosp.

    (2013)
  • J.A. Heady et al.

    Coronary heart disease in London busmen. A progress report with particular reference to physique

    Br J Prev Soc Med.

    (1961)
  • G.C. Rowe et al.

    Running forward: new frontiers in endurance exercise biology

    Circulation.

    (2014)
  • M.R. Carnethon et al.

    Cardiorespiratory fitness in young adulthood and the development of cardiovascular disease risk factors

    JAMA.

    (2003)
  • Cited by (0)

    View full text