The cardiac rehabilitation exercises allow patients who have undergone bypass surgery to find a better fitness and reduce the risk of recurrent cardiovascular accident says J Settembrino. According to a recent study by a team of Japanese doctors, this type of exercise may have additional benefits for those among patients with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is generally defined by the presence of at least three of the following: abdominal obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, lack of HDL-cholesterol in the blood. The risk of cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes is increased for individuals

with this syndrome. The study covers 32 subjects monitored by doctors during a cardiac rehabilitation program of 6 months. Researchers have found a significant decrease in body mass index, weight and waist circumference, and a general improvement in the metabolic score, which is calculated from weighted values of the five parameters listed in the preceding paragraph . Subjects also acquired greater strength of thigh muscles and a better resistance to physical effort, as measured by a higher peak oxygen consumption and anaerobic threshold. Finally, analysis revealed a decrease in blood protein, a protein strongly associated with certain features of metabolic syndrome.