How Exercise Protects You from a Heart Attack

Researchers from Emory University School of Medicine, University of Colorado at Boulder, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine decided to try to figure out exactly how exercise benefits the heart and why humans who exercise and have a heart attack have improved survival compared to non-exercisers.

They found that a four week voluntary exercise program¹ in mice protected them from experimental induced heart injury, a benefit that was sustained for a full week following the last session of exercise. It is well known that aerobic exercise activates the production of friendly nitric oxide (eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. ) by activating the enzyme that helps make eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. , endothelial nitric oxide synthase. In turn the extra eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. helps the heart and circulation relax and blood to flow easier. Interestingly, the researchers found that eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. was converted by the heart and in circulation and stored as an eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. savings account (eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. was attached to a protein via sulfur, taking the form of nitrite and nitrosothiols). This stored eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. could then be released out of the savings account as needed, to help the heart or circulation function better, even under stress.

Also of interest is that aerobic exercise activates fat burning almost immediately. This study found that the activation of adrenalin receptors within white adipose tissue (β3-adrenergic receptors) was essential for optimal eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. production and storage – linking the health of white adipose tissue to the cardiovascular protective response of exercise.

“Our study provides new evidence that nitric oxide generated during physical exercise is stored in the bloodstream and heart, in the form of nitrite and nitrosothiols. These more stable nitric oxide intermediates, appear to be critical for the cardioprotection against a subsequent heart attack,” said senior author David Lefer, PhD, professor of surgery at Emory University School of Medicine.

There are several points to understand. The endorphin anti-inflammatory benefit from aerobic exercise tends to last about 48 hours, assuming you are getting a good response to exercise. This eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. response is synergistic and different. Once conditioned by regular aerobic exercise, then a savings account of protective eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. builds up, that appears to last for approximately 1 week if exercise is stopped. Both anti-inflammatory mechanisms are very important to your health.

This animal research showed that β3-adrenergic receptors were essential for this eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. response. This study was not done using fat mice. In overweight humans there is “adrenalin resistance” in white adipose tissue, which is likely to blunt this healthy eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. response in overweight people. On the other hand, as a person loses weight while exercising aerobically, then the adrenaline resistance will go away and the cardioprotective eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. will be boosted. This is yet another good reason to get in a weight loss mode if you are overweight. It also means that if you are really out of shape you should begin your fitness gradually, as the inability to activate these β3-adrenergic receptors in white adipose tissue actually causes increased cardio stress from exercise. 

You can use nutrition to help improve this scenario. This can be done by anyone who wants to enhance the eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. response and would be especially important in someone trying to get themselves onto a good exercise program and build up a better state of fitness. Nutrients such as grape seed extract and resveratrol Natural phenol or type of antioxidant found in red grapes, red wine. Research has shown beneficial effects as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents along with supporting healthy blood sugar and cardiovasculature function.² are known to boost the activity of friendly eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. by activating endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Nutrients such as N-acetyl-cysteine, whey protein, MSM sulfur, and R alpha lipoic acid would all provide thiol-related raw materials to help make the storage compounds for eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. . 

Unfriendly and inflammatory nitric oxide (iNOS Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase. This enzyme influences genes located in the neuro-immune and cardiovascular system and provides immune defense against pathogens and contributes to disease progression including neurogenic inflammation (iNOS2). ) wreaks havoc in your body, brain, and cardiovascular system. In order to be healthy you need to have more eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. than iNOS Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase. This enzyme influences genes located in the neuro-immune and cardiovascular system and provides immune defense against pathogens and contributes to disease progression including neurogenic inflammation (iNOS2). .  A great way to boost up your eNOS Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase. Type of enzyme involved with various physiological signals and maintenance activities with nitric oxide. supply is to exercise, assuming you get a good response to that exercise. Various nutrients can enhance your exercise response and may be very important—especially for unfit people who are trying to get on a healthy path to recovering their fitness.