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Cardiovascular disease is a generic term used to define a group of disorders affecting directly the human heart and the cardiovascular system; corresponding to the number one cause of death in the contemporary world (WHO, 2018; Simão, Precoma & Andrade, 2013; Silveira, Ribeiro & Ramos, 2012; Colombo & Aguillar, 1997). Cardiac insufficiency, arrhythmia and myocardial infarct are common heart dysfunctions that might be emphasized by multifactorial mechanisms such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, stress, diabetes mellitus, obesity, age over 60 years, sex, familiar history for cardiovascular diseases, and sedentary lifestyle (Simão et al., 2013; Silveira et al., 2012).
Among the aforementioned factors that might increase cardiovascular diseases, the hypertension has been indicated as the most important risk factor for coronary artery disease development. It is defined as blood pressure (BP) higher than 140/90 mmHg for patients with age under 60 years and above 160/90 mmHg for elderlies. Hypertensive patients are also predisposed to cardiac insufficiency, cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, and, cognitive deficits development and dementia (Simão et al., 2013).
Dyslipidemia (high blood lipids level) is also indicated as a relevant risk factor correlated to cardiac diseases development (CAD) along with hypertension (Oliveira, 2011). High low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations rates and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration may increase CAD chances, which emphasize the importance of treatments aiming to impact lipids regulation (Simão et al., 2013).
Approximately 75% of the cardiovascular mortality rate could be decreased with lifestyle changes; such as healthy feed, low consumption of sodium and alcohol, suitable potassium ingestion, body mass control, smoking and sedentary lifestyle combat (I Brazilian Guideline of Cardiovascular Prevention - Brazilian Society of Cardiology, 2013; World Health Organization, 2018). Both the cardiovascular risk factors control and the disease development mechanisms comprehension might be carried out by means of either pharmacological or non-pharmacological intervention, since only age, sex and familiar history are considered as non-modifiable factors on CAD (Colombo & Aguillar, 1997; Simão et al., 2013; The American College of Sports Medicine, 2003).
Sedentary lifestyle has been considered to play a role in the CAD (Nery, Barbisan & Mahmud, 2007). Physical activities are strongly recommended to regulate the cholesterol level and for the hypertension control, promoting protective effects on cardiovascular system for healthy people and cardiac patients (The Brazilian Archives of Cardiology, 2005; I Brazilian Guideline of Cardiovascular Prevention - Brazilian Society of Cardiology, 2013).