Key result
Regular physical activity lowers cardiovascular risk, with isometric training reducing systolic blood pressure ~7 mmHg.
Why the study?
Recent increases in cardiovascular events highlight the need to synthesize the cardiovascular effects of physical activity and its role in CVD prevention and management through modifiable risk factors.
Does regular physical activity improve modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to physical inactivity and sedentary behavior?
Does regular physical activity improve modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to physical inactivity and sedentary behavior?
This narrative review confirms that increasing habitual physical activity (particularly leisure-time and transportation-related activity) and reducing sedentary behavior significantly improve cardiometabolic risk factors—including blood pressure, lipid profiles, and glucose metabolism—and lower long-term cardiovascular disease risk.
Supports existing guideline exercise prescriptions without providing new primary data; leaves open the optimal individualized combination of aerobic and isometric training for hard cardiovascular outcomes.
Background: In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of cardiovascular events, highlighting the importance of effective strategies for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention.Physical activity (PA) is well known as a protective factor against cardiovascular disease and is one of the most important modifiable factors linked to cardiovascular health.It has been linked to beneficial effects on a number of cardiovascular risk factors and may therefore help to reduce both cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.Objective: The aim of this narrative review was to summarize the main cardiovascular effects of physical activity and to assess its role in the prevention and in the management of cardiovascular disease, with a particular focus on its impact on the modifiable cardiovascular risk factors.Methods: A narrative literature review was carried out using the PubMed database.The search included articles in English published from 2018 to 2026.Results: Regular physical activity has beneficial effects on cardiovascular health.These include improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure, metabolic function, body composition, and other modifiable cardiovascular risk factors.Higher levels of habitual PA are associated with a lower risk of CVD and cardiovascular events, whereas physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are associated with an unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile.Conclusions: PA is an important determinant of cardiovascular health.Its promotion should form an integral part of strategies for prevention of CVD.Increasing habitual physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior may lead to more favorable cardiovascular risk profiles and better long-term cardiovascular outcomes.
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Frączek et al. (2026) conducted a review in Cardiovascular disease. Physical activity and structured exercise vs. Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior was evaluated on Cardiovascular health, modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiovascular disease incidence. Regular physical activity (≥150 min/week) lowers cardiovascular disease risk, reduces triglycerides by 7.68 mg/dL per aerobic session, and lowers systolic blood pressure by 7.47 mmHg via isometric training.
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