女性在停經後心血管疾病發生率增加，除缺乏雌激素、血脂異常、身體組成改變等因素之外，身體活動不足和心肺適能較差亦會增加罹患心血管疾病的危險性。橫向研究結果顯示停經後女性若身體活動較高，其心血管疾病危險因子較少，並且罹患心血管疾病的比例較低，國外大型流行病學研究也支持身體活動對於女性心血管疾病發生率的預防效果，並可減少日後心血管疾病的死亡率。與停經前女性或同齡男性相比，停經後女性的有氧耐力明顯減少，運動時的血管內皮擴張反應與功能性抗交感反應下降，使周邊血管在運動時擴張能力較差、肌肉血流與含氧量低，均是導致運動能力下降的因素。停經後女性的運動能力與心血管疾病的危險因子相關，亦可作為日後心血管事件發生率或是死亡率的預測指標，運動能力較佳，則未來的心血管事件發生率與死亡率較低。證據顯示生活型態調整，如增加身體活動與心肺適能，可以減少停經後女性罹患心血管疾病的危險因子。停經後女性，應積極藉由生活型態的調整與適當的運動訓練作為介入，促進心血管健康。

Postmenopausal estrogen insufficiency, impaired blood lipid profile and obesity may account for the increasing incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Physical inactivity and poor exercise capacity are also risk factors of CVD. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies support that insufficient physical activity increase the incidence rate and mortality of CVD in postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women had lower aerobic capacity compared with premenopausal women and age-matched males, which may correlate with endothelial dysfunction, impaired functional sympatholysis, and insufficient muscular oxygenation. Exercise capacity is associated with cardiovascular risk factors, such as lipid profile, C-reactive protein, and body mass index. Low exercise capacity is related to the high cardiovascular risk, and increased exercise capacity leads to decreased incidence of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Physical activity intervention is an effective strategy to decrease the risk of CVD, improve fitness, and benefit health. Evidence support that exercise and physical activity can decrease cardiovascular risk factors. Physical activity and exercise training are needed to improve the cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women.