© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017 269
J. Xiao (ed.), Exercise for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Treatment,
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 999,
DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-4307-9_15
Chapter 15
Physical Exercise Is a Potential “Medicine”
for Atherosclerosis
Jian Yang, Richard Y. Cao, Rongrong Gao, Qiongyao Mi,
Qiying Dai, and Fu Zhu
Abstract Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been recognized as the number one
killer for decades. The most well-known risk factor is atherosclerosis. Unlike the
acuity of CVD, atherosclerosis is a chronic, progressive pathological change. This
process involves inflammatory response, oxidative reaction, macrophage activity,
and different interaction of inflammatory factors. Physical exercise has long been
known as good for health in general. In recent studies, physical exercise has been
demonstrated to be a therapeutic tool for atherosclerosis. However, its therapeutic
effect has dosage-dependent effect. Un-proper over exercise might also cause dam-
age to the heart. Here we summarize the mechanism of Physical exercise’s benefi-
cial effects and its potential clinical use.
Keywords Exercise • Cardiovascular disease • Atherosclerosis
J. Yang • R.Y. Cao • F. Zhu (*)
Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital/Shanghai
Zhongshan-Xuhui Hospital, Fudan University/Shanghai Clinical Research Center,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, 996 Middle Huaihai Road, Shanghai 200031, China
e-mail: [email protected]
R. Gao
Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University,
Nanjing 210029, China
Q. Mi
Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital/Shanghai
Zhongshan-Xuhui Hospital, Fudan University/Shanghai Clinical Research Center,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, 996 Middle Huaihai Road, Shanghai 200031, China
School of Life Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
Q. Dai
Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University,
Nanjing 210029, China
Metrowest Medical Center, Framingham, MA 01702, USA