Erectile Dysfunction Can Be A Harbinger Of Stroke And Heart Attack

Erectile dysfunction can be a harbinger of stroke and heart attack

Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) may subsequently face an even greater problem, as it may indicate an increased risk of stroke or heart attack. This conclusion was reached by American scientists after studying the data of more than 150,000 men.

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Compared to men without impotence symptoms, the study found that men with ED were 59% more likely to develop coronary heart disease or atherosclerosis, 37% more likely to develop stroke, and 33% more likely to die from any cause.

"Erectile dysfunction can develop years before a man has other signs or symptoms of cardiovascular events," says Dr. Ron Blankstein, author of the study, at Harvard Medical School.

Erectile dysfunction is considered to be the inability to get enough erection for sex. In addition to cardiovascular disease, there are many factors that can affect an erection: stress, anxiety disorder, sleep disturbances, smoking, alcohol consumption, and certain medications such as beta-blockers, blood pressure medications, antidepressants and antihistamines.

As Dr. Blankstein says, recurrent erectile dysfunction is not yet a sign of impotence, but if a man feels that his sexual performance is significantly worse than in previous years, then it is time to worry.

“In many cases, this can be the first warning sign of cardiovascular disease. Thus, if erectile dysfunction recurs regularly, a man should pay attention to it, as it may indicate heart disease,”says Blankstein.

According to him, it is the male genital organ that is a good indicator of future circulatory disorders. “The artery of the penis has a relatively small diameter, and it is the small blood vessels that show the first signs of disease. They become unable to expand and provide sufficient blood flow,”says Blankstein.

To understand if heart disease is an underlying factor in ED, Blankstein recommends seeing a doctor, especially looking for abnormal blood sugar levels, which could be a sign of diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure, and scanning for calcification coronary artery to find calcified plaques in the arteries of the heart. He also advises to quit smoking, as smoking is a risk factor for both heart disease and erectile dysfunction. In addition, he recommends exercise and weight loss when overweight, as well as trying a Mediterranean diet.