The influence of aerobic physical exercise in the prevention of coronary heart disease

Abstract

The present review emphazises the role of aerobic physical exercise (APE), of moderate or heavy intensity, as a fundamental tool in the prevention of coronary atherosclerosis (CA). There are evidences that this effect is mediated by the increase of HDL levels. On the other hand increased APE is, in some situations, the only way to prevent CA, specially in patients with no known risk factor but with a considerable family history of CA. In the same way the authors review the importance of APE in the cardiac rehabilitation of patients after myocardiac infarction.