The Potential of Physical Activity for the Control of Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, and Cancer: An Often-Overlooked Ally for Public Health and Healthcare Management.

Regular physical activity (PA) has numerous physical and mental health benefits, including reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and cancer. However, a significant portion of the global adult population does not meet the recommended guidelines for weekly PA. In Portugal, only a small percentage of youth, adults, and older adults meet these guidelines. Physical exercise, a subset of PA, has been shown to have profound health benefits for individuals with chronic diseases. Despite the evidence supporting the role of PA in preventing and managing chronic diseases, efforts to promote PA and integrate it into routine clinical care have been largely unsuccessful. It is important for healthcare providers and public health stakeholders to prioritize the integration of PA into treatment plans and to take action to promote PA for better health management. [Extracted from the article]