Physical activity and coronary heart disease: prevention and effect on risk factors

The general public recommendation to accumulate 30 minutes of daily physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week was recently modified by the National Academy of Science Institute of Medicine to at least 60 minutes of cumulative daily physical activity to maintain cardiovascular health at a maximal level. Data suggest that regular physical activity, even as little as 30 minutes daily, can positively impact cardiovascular health by improving many of the major risk factors associated with coronary heart disease, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, insulin resistance, and endothelial function. With the recent and rapid rise in the rate of obesity in the United States, a doubling of the dose of physical activity daily may help offset the trend of increased caloric intake that has contributed to this epidemic. We briefly review the evidence regarding the amount and intensity of physical activity necessary to alter these cardiovascular risk factors with the goal of reducing coronary events.