Exercise for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Treatment

Jubert Marquez, Jin Han

Mitochondria are complex organelles essential for the production of energy. These dynamic, complex organelles found in every cell and tissues of the body have been well-studied in various physiological models, stressing that mitochondrial dysfunction is characteristic of pathological states, especially in cardiovascular diseases and heart failure. Since heart failure progresses due to energy deficits brought about by altered mitochondrial bioenergetics and functioning, novel ways of ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction are being studied. Interestingly, various exercise modalities can serve as stimuli which can regulate the mitochondria in different ways, such as in the increase of mitochondrial mass and copy number, in the structural fusion and fission processes, and the removal of impaired mitochondria. Considering that there are numerous kinds and protocols for exercise, there are a number of ways exercise can affect the mitochondria as well. Nonetheless these processes affect each other to an extent, highlighting the pivotal role exercise plays in improving or enhancing the state of mitochondria during disease. This chapter will focus on how exercise of different can regulate mitochondrial processes, which could be used as therapeutic strategies in addressing heart failure.