Exercise and Atherosclerosis

A lack of physical activity (a sedentary lifestyle) increases the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Regular aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming, lowers the risk in several ways.Blood pressure. Regular exercise lowers resting blood pressure. Lower pressure means less damage to the endothelium of the arteries, so atheromas are less likely to start forming.The heart. Training strengthens cardiac muscle, so more blood is pumped with each beat (a larger stroke volume). The heart can therefore supply the body with a lower resting heart rate, and it does less work.Blood lipids. Exercise raises the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which carries cholesterol away from the tissues to the liver, and tends to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This reduces the cholesterol available to build up in artery walls.Other risk factors. Exercise uses energy, which helps to keep body mass healthy. It also improves the sensitivity of cells to insulin, lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes, which is itself a risk factor for CVD.Because inactivity is linked to other factors such as obesity, studies must be designed carefully to separate the effect of exercise itself from these other factors.