Exercise as Medicine

For Coronary Artery Disease

What is Coronary Artery Disease

Most common type of Cardiovascular
disease in Canada5

Atherosclerotic processes lead to a narrowing of

the lumen of the coronary arteries, restricting
blood flow to the heart3
Endothelial cells that line
these arteries become
dysfunctional3
Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis

Circulating Angiogenic
Cells
Circulating cells with cardiovascular
regenerative effects6
Nitric Oxide appears to be an important factor
in the liberation and function4,6

(Witkowski, Jenkins & Hagberg, 2011)

Exercise and CAC

Exercise training represents a powerful
intervention to partially reverse endothelial
dysfunction1,2

Both acute and chronic exercise has been found to

increase circulating CAC levels6

Chronic adaptations may be enhanced in individuals

with coronary artery disease6

CACs, Nitric Oxide and

Oxidative Stress

(Witkowski, Jenkins & Hagberg, 2011)

Questions?

Future Directions
The influence of exercise on differing CAC populations
The mechanisms of how exercise increases CAC function
The effects of variations of intensity and duration

References
1. Beck, E. B., Erbs, S., Mbius-Winkler, S., Adams, V., Woitek, F. J., Walther, T., Linke, A. (2012).
Exercise training restores the endothelial response to vascular growth factors in patients
with stable coronary artery disease.European Journal of Preventive C Cardiology,19(3), 412418.
2. Hambrecht, R., Wolf, A., Gielen, S., Linke, A., Hofer, J., Erbs, S., Schuler, G. (2000). Effect of
exercise on coronary endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease.The
New England Journal of Medicine,342(7), 454-460. doi:10.1056/NEJM200002173420702
3. Klabunde, R. (2011). Cardiovascular physiology concepts (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA:
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
4. Soydin, S., elik, A., Demiryrek, S., Davutolu, V., Tarakolu, M., & Aksoy, M. (2007). The
relationship between oxidative stress, nitric oxide, and coronary artery disease. European
Journal of General Medicine,4(2).
5. Villella, M., & Villella, A. (2014). Exercise and cardiovascular diseases.Kidney and Blood
Pressure Research,39(2-3), 147-153. doi:10.1159/000355790
6. Witkowski, S., Jenkins, N. T., & Hagberg, J. M. (2011). Enhancing treatment for
cardiovascular disease: Exercise and circulating angiogenic cells.Exercise and
Sciences Reviews,39(2), 93-101. doi:10.1097/JES.0b013e31820a595e

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