▲ Professor Jun Gyo Gwon of the Divsion of Vascular Surgery at Asan Medical Center is treating a patient with cardiovascular disease. 

A recent study found that continuing regular exercise after being diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), such as myocardial infarction or unstable angina caused by the sudden blockage or narrowing of coronary arteries, significantly reduces the risk of recurrence.

A research team led by Professor Jun Gyo Gwon of the Divsion of Vascular Surgery at Asan Medical Center analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Service. The team followed over 30,000 South Korean patients aged 20 and older who underwent coronary intervention or bypass surgery for ACS between 2010 and 2017, with an average follow-up period of 6.7 years. The result showed that patients who consistently engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, such as brisk walking or cycling, before and after diagnosis had up to a 13% lower risk of cardiovascular events. Even patients who began exercising only after diagnosis had a 9% lower risk compared to those who remained inactive. This indicates that starting an exercise, even for those who were previously inactive, can help both treat and prevent cardiovascular disease. In contrast, patients who stopped exercising after diagnosis had a similar risk level to those who never exercised, indicating that without consistent physical activity, the cardiovascular risk remains elevated.

Professor Jun Gyo Gwon of the Divsion of Vascular Surgery at Asan Medical Center stated, “The large-scale study demonstrates that engaging in appropriately intense exercise after being diagnosed with myocardial infarction or angina is not dangerous. In fact, it can be effective in preventing future cardiovascular events over the long term, which makes these findings especially meaningful.”

The findings of this study were recently published in the ‘British Journal of Sports Medicine’, a leading international journal in the field.