Vnitr Lek 2017, 63(10):729-736 | DOI: 10.36290/vnl.2017.144

Physical activity - the Holy Grail of modern medicine?

Vladimír Tuka^1,*, Martina Daňková², Karel Riegel², Martin Matoulek^1,2

¹ Centrum kardiovaskulární rehabilitace III. interní kliniky - kliniky endokrinologie a metabolizmu 1. LF UK a VFN v Praze

² Obezitologické centrum III. interní kliniky - kliniky endokrinologie a metabolizmu 1. LF UK a VFN v Praze

Movement is the basic attribute of life. It is not surprising that the return to regular physical activity is a very effective and cheap means of preventing and treating most non-cummunicable diseases. Therefore, every physician should be able to prescribe a suitable physical activity. The minimum amount of physical activity with proven effects in primary prevention of chronic diseases is relatively low: 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of high intensity exercise per week or a combination of the two. The simplest and safe way of physical activity is walking (at least 10 000 steps/day or 6 000 steps/day on top of daily activities). The FITT model is a more sophisticated way of prescribing physical activity that already requires a stress test. Patients at risk of atherosclerosis or with any manifestation of atherosclerosis (patients with coronary artery disease, post-stroke, peripheral artery disease) benefit from exercise as well as patients with chronic heart failure. Physical activity also helps patients with lung disease (COPD, asthma), metabolic diseases (diabetes mellitus, obesity, osteoporosis) and also rheumatologic diseases. Regular exercise improves cognitive function, reduces depression and anxiety, and helps addicted people. Recently, it has been shown that exercise also changes the gut microbiome. One of the mechanisms that contribute to the beneficial effect of exercise is so-called "exercise factors" - myokines. Physical activity, when properly prescribed, is an inexpensive and universal medication with minimal side effects. It is our "home pharmacy" we always have with us.

Keywords: cancer; cardiovascular diseases; neuropsychiatric diseases; physical activity; type 2 diabetes

Received: September 9, 2017; Accepted: September 27, 2017; Published: October 1, 2017  Show citation