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Physical Exercise Is a Potential “Medicine” for Atherosclerosis

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Exercise for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Treatment

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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 damage to the heart. Here we summarize the mechanism of Physical exercise’s beneficial effects and its potential clinical use.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the grants from Shanghai Key Discipline Construction Grant (ZK2012A40) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (81672260).

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 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

    Jian Yang, Richard Y. Cao, Qiongyao Mi & Fu Zhu

  2. Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China

    Rongrong Gao & Qiying Dai

  3. School of Life Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China

    Qiongyao Mi

  4. Metrowest Medical Center, Framingham, MA, 01702, USA

    Qiying Dai

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  1. Jian Yang
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  2. Richard Y. Cao
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  4. Qiongyao Mi
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  5. Qiying Dai
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  6. Fu Zhu
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Correspondence to Fu Zhu .

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  1. Cardiac Regeneration and Ageing Lab, School of Life Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China

    Junjie Xiao

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Yang, J., Cao, R.Y., Gao, R., Mi, Q., Dai, Q., Zhu, F. (2017). Physical Exercise Is a Potential “Medicine” for Atherosclerosis. In: Xiao, J. (eds) Exercise for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Treatment. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 999. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4307-9_15

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