BRAINCAKEExercise 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.
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Key terms in this lesson
- stroke volume
- The volume of blood pumped out of a ventricle in one heartbeat.
- low-density lipoprotein
- A lipoprotein that transports cholesterol from the liver to the tissues; high blood levels are linked to a greater risk of atherosclerosis.
More in Cardiovascular Diseases
- Risk
- Non-modifiable Risk Factors
- Modifiable Risk Factors
- Smoking and Atherosclerosis
- Weight and Atherosclerosis
- Stress and Atherosclerosis
- Diet and Atherosclerosis
- Links Between Factors, Correlation and Causation
All 20 lessons in Cardiovascular Diseases · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics