The same process that creates heart disease may also cause erectile dysfunction, only earlier.
Erectile dysfunction — the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex — can be an early warning sign of current or future heart problems. Understand the connection and what you can do about it.
In the past, the buildup of plaques in the arteries of your body was believed to be the reason why erectile dysfunction often precedes heart problems. The idea was that plaque buildup reduces blood flow in the penis, making an erection difficult.
However, experts now believe that erectile dysfunction preceding heart problems is more often due to the dysfunction of the inner lining of the blood vessels (endothelium) and smooth muscle. Endothelial dysfunction causes inadequate blood supply to the heart and impaired blood flow to the penis, and aids in the development of atherosclerosis.
Erectile dysfunction does not always indicate an underlying heart problem. However, research suggests that men with erectile dysfunction who have no obvious cause, such as trauma, and who have no symptoms of heart problems should be screened for heart disease too.
Besides sharing a common disease process, erectile dysfunction and heart disease also share many risk factors, including:
If your doctor thinks you might be at risk of ED or heart disease, consider making lifestyle changes. Increase your physical activity, maintain a healthy weight, stop smoking and drinking. However, further tests or treatment might be needed if you have more-serious signs and symptoms of ED.
If you have both erectile dysfunction and heart disease, talk to your doctor about treatment options. If you take certain heart medications, especially nitrates, it is not safe to use many of the medications used to treat erectile dysfunction. Consult a sexologist at the earliest as it could save your life by many years.
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