Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

In primary prevention, regular physical activity decreases the incidence of cardiovascular disease. At the endothelial level, this decreased incidence was attributed to higher expression and phosphorylation of the endothelial isoform of NO synthase, which results in a more effective radical scavenger system, a rejuvenation of the endothelium by circulating progenitor cells (CPCs), and growth of preexisting coronary vessels by angiogenesis.1, 2