IJCS | Volume 32, Nº4, July/August 2019

DOI: 10.5935/2359-4802.20190060 319 VIEWPOINT International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 2019;32(4):319-325 Mailing Address: Claudio Gil Exercise Medicine Clinic - CLINIMEX - Rua Siqueira Campos, 93-101. Postal Code: 22031-072, Rio de Janeiro, RJ- Brazil. E-mail: cgaraujo@iis.com.br Exercise, Sports & Cardiovascular Health: Relevant Questions and Answers Claudio Gil Araujo, 1 Barry Franklin, 2 J ari Laukkanen, 3 Jonathan Myers, 4, 5 Josef Niebauer, 6 J urgen Scharhag, 7 P hilip J. Millar 8 Exercise Medicine Clinic – CLINIMEX, 1 Rio de Janeiro, RJ – Brazil Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, 2 Michigan – USA University of Jyvaskyla – Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, 3 Jyvaskyla – Finland Stanford University – VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 4 Palo Alto, California – USA Stanford University, 5 Stanford, California – USA Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg – Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation, 6 Salzburg – Austria Sports Medicine, Exercise Physiology and Prevention, Department of Sport Science, University of Vienna 7 – Austria University of Guelph – Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, 8 Guelph, Ontario – Canada Manuscript received April 26, 2019; revised manuscript April 29, 2019; accepted May 04, 2019. Exercise; Sports; Exercise Movement Techniques; Muscle Strenght; Hypertension; Preventive Health Care; Exercise Therapy. Keywords Introduction Currently, it is quite common for a clinical cardiologist to be questioned about exercise and sports, topics that are rarely discussed during formal medical education. In this regard, there is a clear need to access high-quality data and evidence-based information to give patients and family members the best advice. Aiming to present the state-of-the art scientific information on the topic, we have invited several experts from different countries, all of them “knowledge- producers” in exercise and sports cardiology, to contribute with their expertise by answering specific and relevant questions in the matter. The answers were limited to about 250 words and they were asked to preferentially refer to their own publications. This is an innovative type of scientific paper – questions & answers (Q&A) format -, in which all contributors are listed as coauthors in the paper, but for each one of the answers the responder is clearly identified. Exercise should be a lifelong habit: from childhood to the elderly individual Barry A. Franklin Q: There is a well-established consensus that regular exercise is beneficial for mental and physical health. It is also well-recognized that regularity of exercise is an important issue. Notwithstanding, most of the interventional physical activity studies are short-term, most of them rarely exceeding months or one year and, indeed, we do not know very much about the effects of lifelong exercise habits. In addition, it is already known that aerobic and non-aerobic (i.e., muscle strength, flexibility, balance) fitness tends to decrease with aging. So, in a clinical practice setting and based on the most recent evidence, what advice should the cardiologist give about the amount and the intensity of regular weekly exercise for his (her) aging patients? Should they maintain, reduce or increase the exercise dose over the decades for maximal clinical benefit? A: Both regular physical activity (PA) and higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with a reduced risk of developing hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, and cardiovascular events. 1 Each 1-MET increase in exercise capacity is associated Claudio Gil Soares de Araújo, MD, PhD Director of Research and Education Exercise Medicine Clinic - CLINIMEX cgaraujo@iis.com.br