physiological benefits of cardiovascular endurance

This leads to pathologic hypertrophy of the ventricular walls and ventricular chamber dilation, eventually culminating in decreased myocardial function and the onset of heart failure ( 46, 47). Sustained hypertension increases left ventricular afterload, forcing the left ventricle to work harder ( 45). Therefore, the renin-angiotensin system and sympathetic nervous system create a positive feedback loop to increase hypertension in obese individuals ( 40). The renin-angiotensin system also affects the sympathetic nervous system through inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake in the pre-synaptic sympathetic nerve terminals, increasing resting norepinephrine concentration ( 42), which can cause an increased resting heart rate and eventually development of hypertension ( 43, 44). Aldosterone increases the reabsorption of water and sodium into the blood, resulting in increased extracellular fluid volume, thus increasing blood pressure. Angiotensin II induces vasoconstriction in arterioles, causing arteriolar resistance and increased systemic blood pressure, in addition to stimulating the release of anti-diuretic hormone, which increases water reabsorption in the kidneys. In obesity, angiotensin II and aldosterone secretion from abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue drives activation of the renin-angiotensin system ( 37– 41). This can occur for several reasons, one being that a high fat diet or obesity can lead to hypertension. Thus, determining various therapeutic tools to prevent or reduce the incidence of CVD is vital.Īlthough cardiovascular disease can arise in response to multiple factors, the prevalence of obesity-related CVD is rapidly increasing ( 8). These conditions can lead to potentially fatal cardiac events such as stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack), or cardiac arrest ( 31, 36). CVD encompasses a wide range of conditions that affect the heart and vasculature including arrhythmias, dilated, hypertrophic, or idiopathic cardiomyopathies, heart failure and atherosclerosis ( 34, 35). Almost half of all adults in the United States have at least one key risk factor for development of CVD (i.e., high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or smoking) ( 33). Given the increasing interest in exercise-based therapies, we will discuss the benefits of exercise on cardiovascular health and the potential mechanisms through which they occur.Ĭardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide ( 31, 32).

Exercise improves myocardial perfusion and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, all of which reduce stress on the heart and improve cardiovascular function in healthy and diseased individuals ( 11, 15, 29, 30).

Regular physical exercise decreases resting heart rate, blood pressure, and atherogenic markers, and increases physiological cardiac hypertrophy ( 13– 15, 28). Physical exercise can also improve cardiovascular function through adaptations to the heart and vascular system ( 17, 24– 27). This occurs primarily through adaptations to the skeletal muscle, liver, and adipose tissue ( 16, 22, 23). Exercise improves overall metabolic health and reduces the development of T2D ( 18) by improving glucose tolerance ( 19), insulin sensitivity ( 20), and decreasing circulating lipid concentrations ( 21). Several recent studies have shown that sustained physical activity is associated with decreased markers of inflammation, improved metabolic health, decreased risk of heart failure, and improved overall survival ( 15– 17). While decreasing body mass and adiposity are not the primary outcomes of exercise, exercise can mediate several diseases that accompany obesity including T2D and CVD ( 9– 14). Regular physical exercise has several beneficial effects on overall health. As obesity rates continue to rise, the prevalence of associated comorbidities including T2D and CVD increase concomitantly ( 7) overweight people are twice as likely, and severely obese people are ten times more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases than individuals of a healthy weight ( 8). Obesity is associated with many adverse health effects, including increased risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), certain cancers, and death ( 2– 6). Obesity and its associated co-morbidities are increasing at rapid rates across the United States and worldwide ( 1).

Physiological benefits of cardiovascular endurance