[Sports and coronary heart disease]

Vigorous leisure-time exercise induces protection against the risks of coronary heart disease, thus contributing to a lower rate of both morbidity and mortality. The protection is due to a higher HDL/LDL ratio, improved oxygen utilisation capacity of skeletal muscle, enhanced performance capacity of the myocardium, decreased blood pressure and an increase in fibrinolytic activity. A significant training effect can be obtained by running, cycling, rowing, swimming or cross-country skiing 3 times 20-30 minutes per week at an intensity eliciting a heart rate of 180 beats per minute minus the age of the subject in years.