Mechanism of exercise for cardiovascular protection

Appropriate exercise can significantly reduce incidence and mortality of cardiovascular diseases and effectively improve prognosis of cardiovascular patients. Excercise has been regarded as effective in prevention and adjuvant treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Exercise has been shown to reduce inflammation, improve vascular endothelial function, regulate energy metabolism, and protect against myocardial damage. Nonetheless, the mechanisms mediating exercise-induced benefits for cardiovascular diseases are complex and many still remain to be elucidated. This review focuses on currently understood mechanisms related to exercise induced cardioprotection, with an emphasis on the important roles that insulin sensitization, endothelial cells, myocardial mitochondrial adaptations, and miRNAs play in producing the protected phenotype.