Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and clogged arteries—caused by a buildup of fatty plaques—are a major culprit. While some plaques remain stable, others can rupture and trigger heart attacks. A recent study found that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may help shrink fatty arterial plaquesin people with coronary artery disease who have undergone stent placement, reducing plaque size by 1.2% in just six months.

Researchers randomly assigned 60 patients with stable coronary artery disease to a supervised HIIT program or standard preventive care twice a week. After six months, they used intravascular ultrasound to measure changes in plaque size inside the coronary arteries.

They found that patients who did HIIT had a 1.2% reduction in plaque size, while those who followed standard preventive care saw no change. The total plaque volume in the HIIT group also dropped by about 9 cubic millimeters, but it remained the same in the standard care group. Even small reductions in plaque size can be meaningful because they reflect a slowing—or even a reversal—of coronary artery disease progression.

These findings suggest that HIIT may help slow or even reverse the progression of coronary artery disease. It’s important to note that these patients were closely supervised to minimize risk. Learn about some of the contraindications and considerations for HIIT in this episode featuring Dr. Martin Gibala.