Study finds erectile dysfunction ups risk for heart disease
/
Study finds erectile dysfunction ups risk for heart disease
Men, besides seeing a urologist for your erectile dysfunction (ED), you probably should make an appointment with a cardiologist. This news is from a four-year study published in Circulation finding that men who experience vascular-related impotence, are twice as likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke, or sudden cardiac death.
Overview of study
The study tracked heart health of almost 1,900 men, ages 60 to 78, with and without vascular-related ED. Erectile dysfunction can sometimes be related to emotional issues such as anxiety or other psychological concerns with men. However, for men who are experiencing impotence related to vascular problems may be a sign of subclinical cardiovascular dysfunction. Vascular ED is a result of arterial blockage and insufficient blood flow.
It is not new information that for some men ED can be associated with cardiovascular problems. But expert have believed this was primarily due to obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes being the main culprits. Other suspected reasons for ED was that men suffering from depression or using medication were reasons explaining a link between ED and heart disease. But this study is showing that simply having ED on its own is a significant risk factor.
For the study, researchers recruited study participants from across several U.S cities. During the four-year study, 115 men had a serious heart problem, such as a heart attack, stroke or cardiac arrest. It was discovered that just over 6 percent of men with impotence experienced such an event, compared with just under 3 percent of sexually healthy men. About 1 in 5 men over the age of 20 have trouble sustaining an erection.
Study take-home message
The message from this study is that health care providers should consider ED as a risk factor of assessing cardiovascular risk among middle-aged men. Men should also be aware that if they are having problems with impotence, that one reason could be related to a serious cardiovascular issue. Men need to address this possibility with their doctor and from there determine the proper steps to take.
Even though ED becomes more common as men age, it does not necessarily have to be part of normal aging. There are several things men can do to prevent ED or at least delay it down the road:
· Choose foods good for circulation. What’s good for the heart is good for a man’s ability to achieve an erection. Men should eat foods that promote good blood flow to allow blood to flow to and within the penis to achieve a firm erection. Diets that include lots of fruits and vegetables while avoiding foods that are fried, fatty, and processed is how men should eat every day.
· Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can bring many health problems, including type 2 diabetes which can cause nerve damage throughout the body. If the diabetes affects the nerves that supply the penis, ED can result.
· Avoid high blood pressure and high cholesterol. High cholesterol and high blood pressure can damage blood vessels, including those that bring blood to the penis which can lead to ED.
· Drink alcohol in moderation or not at all. There is no evidence that mild or even moderate alcohol consumption is bad for ED. But chronic heavy drinking can cause liver damage, nerve damage and other conditions such as interfering with the normal balance of male sex hormones that can cause ED.
· Exercise regularly. Living a sedentary lifestyle can lead to ED. Men need to engage in aerobic exercise such as running, swimming, and brisk walking to help prevent impotence
· Stop smoking. Smoking cigarettes can harm blood vessels which reduces blood flow to the penis. Nicotine found in cigarettes makes blood vessels contract which hampers blood flow necessary for achieving an erection.
· Avoid anabolic steroids. These drugs are often abused by bodybuilders and athletes. They should be avoided as they can shrink the testicles causing them to lose the ability to make testosterone,