Journal of CardioVascular Insights

Abstract

Exercise is widely recognized as a fundamental strategy for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This narrative review aims to summarize the latest scientific evidence on the multisystemic effects of physical activity on cardiovascular health. Through a critical analysis of the literature, the physiological mechanisms by which exercise improves endothelial function, regulates lipid profiles, regulates blood pressure, and increases cardiovascular fitness are examined, with particular attention to molecular adaptations, including the hormetic paradigm of oxidative stress. The review also confirms that both aerobic and resistance exercise programs produce clinically meaningful improvements in healthy populations, indi viduals with risk factors, and patients with heart disease. Despite the methodological diversity of the studies and the need for further research on long-term primary clinical endpoints, the evidence clearly supports the integration of personalized and sustainable exercise programs as a cornerstone of primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention.