How Is Erectile Dysfunction Related to Heart Disease?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence is a common condition worldwide. It is estimated that some 30 million men in the United States are affected by ED. Though it can occur at any age, it is more common among the older men and less seen among the young ones. In general, most men have experienced ED at least some of the time by the age of 45.
ED is often regarded by doctors as a lifestyle issue, but a recent study had rated it as an important problem that provides an early warning of a heart attack. In fact, there is evidence that such condition doubles the risk of heart disease.
British researchers from the Good Hope Hospital in Birmingham warned on October 22, 2008 in the British Medical Journal that men with ED are at a 50 percent higher risk of having heart problems, a level that is comparable to moderate smoking. Smoking has long been regarded as a risk factor of developing heart disease.
Despite the evidence, doctors normally do not screen for ED or low testosterone in patients with Type-2 diabetes or coronary heart disease. Patients with coronary heart disease are usually prescribed by their physicians with drugs that actually make ED worse. Of course, some effective drug treatments do exist, and the patients usually prefer to pay privately because ED has been treated as a recreational or 'lifestyle' issue.
Drugs for ED, such as Pfizer's Viagra or sildenafil, Eli Lilly's Cialis or tadalafil, and Bayer AG's Levitra or vardenafil, work by increasing blood flow to the genitals.
As pointed out by the researchers, the condition is the manifestation of vascular disease in smaller arteries and gives a 2 to 3 year early warning of a heart attack. Therefore, cardiologists should not feel uncomfortable discussing such issue with their patients; otherwise, their act might be regarded as clinically negligent.
ED is often regarded by doctors as a lifestyle issue, but a recent study had rated it as an important problem that provides an early warning of a heart attack. In fact, there is evidence that such condition doubles the risk of heart disease.
British researchers from the Good Hope Hospital in Birmingham warned on October 22, 2008 in the British Medical Journal that men with ED are at a 50 percent higher risk of having heart problems, a level that is comparable to moderate smoking. Smoking has long been regarded as a risk factor of developing heart disease.
Despite the evidence, doctors normally do not screen for ED or low testosterone in patients with Type-2 diabetes or coronary heart disease. Patients with coronary heart disease are usually prescribed by their physicians with drugs that actually make ED worse. Of course, some effective drug treatments do exist, and the patients usually prefer to pay privately because ED has been treated as a recreational or 'lifestyle' issue.
Drugs for ED, such as Pfizer's Viagra or sildenafil, Eli Lilly's Cialis or tadalafil, and Bayer AG's Levitra or vardenafil, work by increasing blood flow to the genitals.
As pointed out by the researchers, the condition is the manifestation of vascular disease in smaller arteries and gives a 2 to 3 year early warning of a heart attack. Therefore, cardiologists should not feel uncomfortable discussing such issue with their patients; otherwise, their act might be regarded as clinically negligent.
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