Need another reason to work out? "...as few as five bouts of exercise on consecutive days can rapidly produce a cardiac phenotype that resists IR-induced myocardial injury."

Physiology (Bethesda). 2014 Jan;29(1):27-38. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00030.2013.

Mechanisms of exercise-induced cardioprotection.

Powers SK, Smuder AJ, Kavazis AN, Quindry JC.

Author information

• Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; and.

Abstract

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury can cause ventricular cell death and is a major pathological event leading to morbidity and mortality in those with coronary artery disease. Interestingly, as few as five bouts of exercise on consecutive days can rapidly produce a cardiac phenotype that resists IR-induced myocardial injury. This review summarizes the development of exercise-induced cardioprotection and the mechanisms responsible for this important adaptive response.