Preconditioning: A New Concept About the Benefit of Exercise -- Domenech 113 (1): e1 -- Circulation

Preconditioning: A New Concept About the Benefit of Exercise -- Domenech 113 (1): e1 -- Circulation:
"Clinicians have learned about the beneficial effects of several factors that may prevent a myocardial infarction (MI), including avoidance of smoking; treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity; and regular performance of exercise. This last factor is based on epidemiological observations such as a decrease in the incidence of MI in men who perform heavy work1,2; however, it is only in the last few years that the beneficial effect of exercise has obtained plausible explanations of its own, that is, apart from its effect on other risk factors. There are at least 3 distinct mechanisms for this benefit: (1) Improvement of endothelial function, thereby preventing atherosclerosis and coronary occlusion3; (2) prevention of remodeling after MI through the expression of oxidative metabolism-related genes4; and (3) delaying acute ischemic injury after a coronary occlusion by preconditioning. "