Erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease

Abstract

In recent years a special attention is paid to the co–occurrence of erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease.
Many risk factors for ED is shared with diseases associated with atherosclerosis. The perception of ED as an early
indicator of atherosclerosis appears to be justified and emphasizes the importance of questions to assess the quality
of sexual life in a physician examination. The declaration of ED in men with no previous diagnosis of cardiovascular
disease obliges the doctor to a detailed calculation of the total cardiovascular risk. Prevention of diabetes, obesity,
not smoking, effective treatment of dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and hypertension can help maintain sexual
performance. The appropriate dose of physical activity significally improves sexual performance. Some cardiac
drugs can also negatively affect the quality of erections. PDE-5 inhibitors are the drugs of the first choice in the
treatment erectile dysfunction in both patients with and without cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this article
is to present the current views on the impact of cardiovascular disease on erectile dysfunction.