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Review
. 2015 Mar-Apr;57(5):443-53.
doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2014.10.006. Epub 2014 Nov 6.

Benefits of exercise training on coronary blood flow in coronary artery disease patients

Rebecca S Bruning  1 , Michael Sturek  2
Affiliations
Review

Benefits of exercise training on coronary blood flow in coronary artery disease patients

Rebecca S Bruning et al. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2015 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Every 34 seconds an American experiences a myocardial infarction or cardiac death. Approximately 80% of these coronary artery disease (CAD)-related deaths are attributable to modifiable behaviors, such as a lack of physical exercise training (ET). Regular ET decreases CAD morbidity and mortality through systemic and cardiac-specific adaptations. ET increases myocardial oxygen demand acting as a stimulus to increase coronary blood flow and thus myocardial oxygen supply, which reduces myocardial infarction and angina. ET augments coronary blood flow through direct actions on the vasculature that improve endothelial and coronary smooth muscle function, enhancing coronary vasodilation. Additionally, ET promotes collateralization, thereby, increasing blood flow to ischemic myocardium and also treats macrovascular CAD by attenuating the progression of coronary atherosclerosis and restenosis, potentially through stabilization of atherosclerotic lesions. In summary, ET can be used as a relatively safe and inexpensive way to prevent and treat CAD.

Keywords: Coronary artery disease; Coronary blood flow; Exercise.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Long-term benefits of regular endurance exercise on systemic risk factors and the coronary circulation. HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin; BMI, body mass index; SBP/DBP, systolic/diastolic blood pressure; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; ROS, reactive oxygen species; CAD, coronary artery disease.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Exercise training acts increases the determinants of myocardial oxygen supply due to large increases in myocardial oxygen demand during exercise.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Porcine heart with advanced coronary artery disease (CAD), highlighting the differences in pathological changes that occur in conduit and resistance vessels. The photomicrographs on the left are Masson trichrome staining from a section of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery (top) and resistance arteries embedded within the left ventricle (bottom). Note the large atherosclerotic lesion that is encroaching the lumen (L) of the LAD (top) to form a flow-limiting stenosis. NC, necrotic core; Ca, calcification; I, neointima, M, media; A, adventitia; RA, right atrium; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; RV, right ventricle.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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