Figure 4.

The relative risk for an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is presented at rest (baseline) and during vigorous activity (days/week). No regular vigorous physical activity elevates the risk of an isolated, unaccustomed bout of vigorous exercise by ≥100-fold. Performing one to two days of weekly vigorous physical activity markedly lowers AMI risk during vigorous physical exertion. More frequent performance of vigorous physical activity further lowers exercise related AMI risk, although the relationship is not linear [74,75]. Vigorous exercise is delineated by the asterisks (*). Reprinted with permission from the American Heart Association.