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(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2003;23:e42.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

AHA Scientific Statement

Exercise and Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

A Statement From the Council on Clinical Cardiology (Subcommittee on Exercise, Rehabilitation, and Prevention) and the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism (Subcommittee on Physical Activity)

Paul D. Thompson, MD; David Buchner, MD; Ileana L. Piña, MD; Gary J. Balady, MD; Mark A. Williams, PhD; Bess H. Marcus, PhD; Kathy Berra, MSN, ANP; Steven N. Blair, PED; Fernando Costa, MD; Barry Franklin, PhD; Gerald F. Fletcher, MD; Neil F. Gordon, MD, PhD; Russell R. Pate, PhD; Beatriz L. Rodriguez, MD, PhD; Antronette K. Yancey, MD; Nanette K. Wenger, MD This statement was reviewed by and has received the endorsement of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Key Words: AHA Scientific Statements • exercise • prevention • cardiovascular disease

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

	Introduction

 
Regular physical activity using large muscle groups, such as walking, running, or swimming, produces cardiovascular adaptations that increase exercise capacity, endurance, and skeletal muscle strength. Habitual physical activity also prevents the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) and reduces symptoms in patients with established cardiovascular disease. There is also evidence that exercise reduces the risk of other chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes,¹ osteoporosis,² obesity,³ depression,⁴ and cancer of the breast⁵ and colon.⁶ This American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Statement for health professionals summarizes the evidence for the benefits of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, provides suggestions to healthcare professionals for implementing physical activity programs for their patients, and identifies areas for future investigation. This statement focuses on aerobic physical activity and does not directly evaluate resistance exercises, such as weight lifting, because most of the research linking physical activity and cardiovascular disease has evaluated aerobic activity. Whenever possible, the writing group has cited summary articles or meta-analyses to support conclusions and recommendations. This evidence supports the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) that individuals should engage in 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity on most (preferably all) days of the week.⁷

	Definition of Terms

 
Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure beyond resting expenditure. Exercise is a subset of physical activity that is planned, structured, repetitive, and purposeful in the sense that improvement . . . [Full Text of this Article]