Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and a major public health problem. Despite the prevalence of the disease, most cardiovascular events could be prevented by a healthy lifestyle, in particular regular physical activity and a balanced diet. The risk of developing cardiovascular disease increases significantly in women after the age of 50. Despite the many benefits of regular physical activity, women often face various barriers and challenges to exercise. Purpose: The aim of this thesis is to investigate the role of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease in women. Methods: The descriptive method of work was used in the thesis, with a review of scientific and professional literature. The sources were searched in CINAHL, Medline (PubMed) and Google Scholar databases. The analysis included English-language articles published between 2015 and 2025 that were freely available in full and relevant to the thesis topic. Results: The final analysis included 11 pieces of literature. High-intensity exercise effectively improves blood pressure, lipid profile, body composition and cardiovascular function. Combined exercise has been shown to be the most effective in reducing risk factors. While even moderate daily activity such as increasing the number of steps significantly reduces this risk. Common barriers to activity include lack of time, motivation and access to exercise facilities, while health concerns, weight control and social support are the main motivators. Early and surgical menopause has been shown to be a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Discussion and conclusion: Regular physical activity plays an important protective role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in women, and a combination of aerobic and strength training and high-intensity interval training has been shown to be the most effective approach. Various barriers have been found to influence women's physical activity, with health concerns and the desire to lose weight playing a key motivational role. Menopause is a critical period for the development of cardiovascular disease, and early recognition, appropriate monitoring and, if necessary, hormone therapy are essential.
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