IMR Press / RCM / Volume 23 / Issue 9 / DOI: 10.31083/j.rcm2309304
Open Access Review
Exercise, Erectile Dysfunction and Co-Morbidities: “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”
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1 Second Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece
*Correspondence: michalisdoumas@yahoo.co.uk (Michael Doumas)
Academic Editor: Fabian Sanchis-Gomar
Rev. Cardiovasc. Med. 2022, 23(9), 304; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.rcm2309304
Submitted: 17 June 2022 | Revised: 24 July 2022 | Accepted: 17 August 2022 | Published: 9 September 2022
Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED), defined as the inability to attain or maintain sufficient penile erection for sexual intercourse, is a growing health problem, which unfortunately remains underreported, underdiagnosed and undertreated. Growing evidence suggests that ED is a promising cardiovascular risk marker, as it is associated with major co-morbidities increasing cardiovascular disease burden, while it is an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The role of exercise as a non-pharmacological therapeutic intervention in ED has been widely investigated during the last two decades, both in observational studies and in randomized controlled trials, enrolling different patients’ populations. In the present narrative review, we summarize relevant evidence concerning the effect of exercise on vascular ED and the pathophysiologic background, underscoring the importance of enhanced physical activity as a recommendation in all subjects with vascular ED.

Keywords
erectile dysfunction
exercise
physical activity
cardiovascular disease
mortality
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