Exercise is considered almost as good as Viagra in overcoming erectile dysfunction

A trio of medical researchers has found that many men with erectile dysfunction can overcome much of the problem simply by doing aerobic exercise. In their study, reported in The Journal of Sexual MedicineMohit Khera, Samir Bhattacharyya and Larry Miller analyzed the results of 11 randomized, controlled clinical trials that involved testing the impact of exercise and medications such as Viagra in treating men with erectile dysfunction.

Previous research has shown that many older men have trouble getting an erection when they want to have sex. In this new study, researchers identified that some research has shown that erectile dysfunction is often associated with cardiovascular health and associated symptoms such as inflammation and narrowing and/or hardening of the arteries. They also noted that regular aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce symptoms of cardiovascular disease. This made them wonder whether such an approach could work for men with erectile dysfunction.

To find out, researchers searched several databases for information related to erectile dysfunction research. They found 11 randomized, controlled studies in which some volunteers with erectile dysfunction were given medication to treat their symptoms, while others were prescribed exercise.

Researchers found that prescribing aerobic exercise was almost as effective as prescribing medications like Viagra, as long as volunteers actually did the prescribed exercises. More specifically, of the 1,100 men involved in the trials, 600 followed an exercise regimen that involved doing 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise three to five times a week. Another 500 volunteers served as a control group.

Researchers involved in the trials found that volunteers who participated in the exercise regimens saw a 5-point improvement in erectile function. They also found that the more severe the condition, the greater the improvement. The researchers also noted that volunteers who received Viagra or Cialis saw improvements of 4 to 8 points, while those who received testosterone saw improvements of just 2 points.

The research team highlighted that exercise, unlike medication, rarely had any negative side effects.

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