Cardioprotección endógena en la rehabilitación cardiovascular

Cardiovascular rehabilitation is an essential, safe and scientifically validated means of treating ischemic heart disease and of reducing its associated morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, this approach is underused around the world. This review focuses on the potential of cardiovascular rehabilitation for promoting cardioprotection, with particular emphasis on the ability of physical exercise to induce a cardioprotective phenotype that counteracts ischemia-reperfusion injury. The text also discusses the principal molecular mechanisms involved in both tissue damage and protection against damage, and in the ischemic preconditioning induced by exercise. In addition, the cardioprotective adaptations in vascular tissue and the autonomic nervous system brought about by physical exercise are considered.