New cardiovascular risk factors and physical activity

Recent research has suggested that a number of new cardiovascular risk factors should be added to the 'traditional' risk factors of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, hyperglycaemia, nicotine poisoning, etc. Some of these non-conventional, 'emergent' conditions are related to plasma lipids whilst others, for example, markers of inflammation, homocysteinaemia, impaired fasting glycaemia and asymmetric dimethylarginine, are not. The emergent factors have obvious implications for preventative and therapeutic decisions. Physical exercise can have a modifying effect, though this is not, as yet, generally well known (especially with regard to homocysteinaemia and asymmetric dimethylarginine). (C) 2010 Conseil Catala de l'Esport. Generalitat de Catalunya. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.