Stroke and cardiorespiratory fitness

Abstract

Physical inactivity is a significant risk for cardiovascular diseases, even for stroke. Regular physical activity improves aerobic capacity, cardiorespiratory fitness, aerob endurance performance (synonyms), diminishing the risk of cardiovascular diseases as well as the risk of stroke. We refer to previous literature data from the past two decades demonstrating the beneficial role of the higher aerob fitness in the primary and secondary prevention of stroke. Relevant methods of measuring aerob performance have been described previously. In the case of optimal aerobic fitness, the occurrence of stroke is lower by a third according to international experience. WHO advices moderate-medium intensity physical activity of minimum 150 minutes per week, which carries significant protection against the majority of chronic cardio-metabolic diseases.