Vasodilators, Enhancers of Prevention through Exercise of COVID-19?

Abstract

The role of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and disease progression is complex, and the interaction with exercise is being investigated. However, the virus binds to ACE2. The paper hypothesizes that exceeding the lactic threshold during exercise would cause, through hypoxia, over expression of ACE2. Vasodilators would prevent hypoxia and implicitly this fact. To the complexity of the phenomenon is added the possibility of preventing severe forms of COVID-19 through mitochondrial biogenesis induced by exercise. As a result, the paper examines the ability of antihypertensives used in combination with exercise to treat cardiovascular disease to prevent ACE2 over expression and to stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis. Future research is needed, but it is worth mentioning that some such hypertensives have been proposed for the treatment of COVID-19.