Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (6)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Press, V.
Right arrow Articles by George, C.F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Press, V.
Right arrow Articles by George, C.F.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Q J Med 2003; 96: 245-251
© 2003 Association of Physicians

Review

Physical activity: the evidence of benefit in the prevention of coronary heart disease

V. Press1, I. Freestone2 and C.F. George3,

From 1 Health Potentials, London, 2 Sport England, East Midlands, and 3 British Heart Foundation, London, UK

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.


   Introduction
 
Over the past 40 years, evidence has accumulated on the role of physical activity in preventing and treating coronary heart disease (CHD). The findings are consistent and show that sedentary people have about twice the risk of developing or dying from CHD, compared to active people. The evidence is compelling and has established physical inactivity as one of the major modifiable risk factors for CHD. A recent analysis suggests that 37% of deaths from CHD are attributable to physical inactivity; this is second only to raised blood cholesterol.1 Despite this, few doctors appear to realize the extent of the benefits of regular exercise, nor are they aware of current recommendations relating to it.2 This article reviews the evidence for, and mechanisms by which physical activity confers benefit, as well as the main health messages and ways in which people can be helped to become more active.

Throughout the paper, physical . . . [Full Text of this Article]


   Physiological benefits of exercise
 

   The evidence that vigorous activity prevents CHD
 

   The evidence that moderate intensity physical activity prevents CHD
 
Harvard Alumni Health Study

   The evidence of the effects of physical activity on reducing risk factors for CHD
 
Blood pressure
Diabetes
Overweight and obesity
Cholesterol

   The effect of physical activity on the health of those with existing CHD
 

   How active are adults in the UK?
 
Risks of physical activity

   Practical help for health professionals—what works?
 
Walking the way to health
Exercise referral schemes

   Conclusions
 

   Appendix: useful resources
 

Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF LIFESTYLE MEDICINEHome page
K. K. Pettee Gabriel and B. E. Ainsworth
Building Healthy Lifestyles Conference: Modifying Lifestyles to Enhance Physical Activity and Diet and Reduce Cardiovascular Disease
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, July 1, 2009; 3(1_suppl): 6S - 10S.
[PDF]

Home page
 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF LIFESTYLE MEDICINEHome page
K. K. Pettee, K. L. Storti, M. B. Conroy, and B. E. Ainsworth
A Lifestyle Approach for Primary Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Perimenopausal to Early Postmenopausal Women
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, September 1, 2008; 2(5): 421 - 431.
[Abstract] [PDF]