Imagine your arteries as highways delivering oxygen-rich blood to every part of your body. Now imagine traffic jams, big ones. That’s what arterial plaque is: a cholesterol-laden gunk that builds up on your arterial walls, narrowing the passageways and setting you up for a not-so-pleasant surprise like a heart attack or stroke.

But what if there were a way to clear some of that mess? Not with a broom, but with your sneakers.

The Science Behind Arterial Plaque and How Exercise Helps Reverse It

Arterial plaque is made up of fats, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, this build-up leads to atherosclerosis, the hardening and narrowing of arteries. But here's the twist: While we’ve long been told that once plaque is there, it's there for good, emerging research is challenging that belief. Turns out, your treadmill could be doing more than just prepping you for beach season, it could be helping to reverse some of that damage.

So how exactly does exercise play a superhero in this story?

Can Exercise Reduce Arterial Plaque? What the Latest Research Shows

Let’s talk numbers.

In a 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers found that individuals who engaged in high levels of physical activity had significantly lower levels of coronary artery plaque composed of lipids, the unstable, dangerous kind that’s most likely to rupture and cause heart attacks. Stable plaques? Less scary. Unstable plaques? Time bombs.

The same study noted that even moderate exercise, not marathon running, showed protective effects.

Another gem: A landmark study in Circulation (2015) followed participants over a 10-year period and found that consistent aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking or cycling) led to a slow regression of plaque and significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular events.

Let’s repeat that for the people in the back: Exercise didn’t just slow the growth, it actually reversed some plaque build-up. Mic drop.

How Regular Physical Activity Decreases Lipid Content in Plaques

It’s not just about sweating it out, it’s about what that sweat does inside your arteries.

When you exercise:

• Your body burns off excess LDL cholesterol (the "bad" kind).

• HDL cholesterol (the "good" kind) increases, helping to clear fats from your blood.

• Inflammation, a major contributor to plaque instability, decreases.

• The lipid core of existing plaques starts to shrink, making them more fibrous and stable.

Think of it like turning a gooey, dangerous mess into a hardened shell that’s less likely to explode. The result? A more stable artery and a much lower risk of cardiac catastrophe.

Credits: MDPI