Erectile dysfunction may be a sign that coronary artery disease is developing

3 Feb, 2008

Erectile dysfunction may be a sign that coronary artery disease is developing, even in men without typical risk factors, according to a new study in the Oct. 18, 2005, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

"We think that erectile dysfunction represents the 'tip of the iceberg' of a systemic vascular disorder; thus potentially preceding severe cardiovascular events. Erectile dysfunction should be part of a cardiovascular risk assessment. These patients should be considered at high risk for coronary artery disease and should have high priority for aggressive treatment," said Emilio Chiurlia, Ph.D. from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Modena, Italy.

The researchers studied 70 men with erectile dysfunction and 73 control subjects who were of similar age and race (all Caucasian), and had similar coronary risk factor scores according to estimates published by the National Cholesterol Education Panel III. None of the men had symptoms of coronary atherosclerosis.

The men with erectile dysfunction had higher levels of C-reactive protein (an emerging coronary risk factor), they were more likely to have abnormal blood vessel responses to changes in blood flow (as measured by flow mediated dilation), and more of them had coronary artery calcifications detected on coronary CT scans.

"When a man is diagnosed with erectile dysfunction, clinicians should be aware that erectile dysfunction would represent an early clinical manifestation of a diffuse subclinical vascular disease and coronary artery disease is the most important problem that needs to be investigated. The smaller penile arteries suffer obstruction from plaque burden earlier than the larger coronary arteries hence erectile dysfunction may be symptomatic before a coronary event," Dr. Chiurlia said.

Dr. Chiurlia noted that this study involved only a small number of men and did not follow them over time to see which ones actually developed heart disease.

"We need prospective studies addressing the precise role of erectile dysfunction as a marker of cardiovascular disease," he said.

While awaiting the results of such future studies, he said erectile dysfunction should raise suspicions about early atherosclerosis, even in men who would not otherwise be considered at high risk.

"In our opinion, erectile dysfunction should be considered, like diabetes, a 'cardiovascular equivalent,'" Dr. Chiurlia said.

Renke Maas, M.D., from the University-Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf in Hamburg, Germany, who was not connected with this research, agreed with the main conclusion of the study.

"The present study by Chiurlia et al. lends strong support to the notion that erectile dysfunction may be an early warning sign of clinically-silent coronary artery disease. Despite limitations set by sample size and the cross-sectional study design with a long list of exclusion criteria, it is a strength of the present work that it assesses major aspects connecting erectile dysfunction and more generalized vascular disease in one study," Dr. Maas said.

Paul Schoenhagen, M.D., from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, who also was not connected with the research, said it provides evidence of related problems in two different regions of the arterial tree.

"These results demonstrate the systemic nature of atherosclerosis and the relationship to an inflammatory process of the vessel wall. This understanding of atherosclerosis increasingly allows early interventions aimed at the prevention of disease complications," Dr. Schoenhagen said.

Disclosure Box
Sources quoted in this news release do not report any potential conflicts of interest regarding this topic.

 

2008-02-05

Early Detection Of Erectile Dysfunction Can Aid In The Diagnosis Of Cardiovascular Disease

During the month of February, Heart Health Month, the Erectile Dysfunction Institute (EDi) is encouraging all men currently experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED) to visit their cardiologist to be examined for cardiovascular disease.

In an unprecedented move in the medical field, EDi has begun an initiative to encourage referrals between key urologists and leading cardiology centers across the U.S. to ensure both ED and cardiovascular disease are correctly identified and that appropriate treatment paths are offered to patients.

"ED is usually caused by an underlying health issue," shares Drogo K. Montague, M.D., Head Section of Prosthetic Surgery and Genitourethral Reconstruction, Cleveland Clinic. "ED is often associated with impaired blood flow. If a patient is experiencing ED, it can be speculated that this could also be problematic in other areas of the patient's body, especially the heart."

Cardiovascular disease has proven to be a strong predictor of erectile dysfunction. Not all men experiencing ED are at risk for cardiovascular disease, but it is recommended that patients take a proactive approach by visiting their cardiologist to explore risk factors.

"Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States," stated Bill Bozick, a patient who had both cardiovascular disease and ED. "I truly believe it is vital for cardiologists and urologists to work together for the betterment of every patient."

The American Heart Association reports that over 685,000 deaths are attributable to Heart Disease, making it the number one cause of death for adults in the United States.

Over 30 million American men suffer from ED, 85% of which is attributable to physical conditions. Untreated, ED is associated with anxiety, depression, anger and incompatibility within a relationship.

For more information, please visit http://www.americanheart.org or http://www.edcure.org.

 

2008-02-05

Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

Most men experience occasional erectile dysfunction (ED) at some time in their lives as a result of fatigue, stress or excessive alcohol consumption. However, when it occurs consistently or for a long period of time, causing significant distress to the sufferer or to his relationship, then it starts to be considered a serious problem.

Here are some treatment options starting with self help:

Share your concerns - it is particularly important that you communicate with your partner by being open and honest and asking for their support. The lines of communication need to be opened.
Start by placing less emphasis on intercourse and more on developing other forms of sexual intimacy. Spending time cuddling, kissing, licking and massaging can still be pleasurable and will help keep you emotionally close to your partner.

Sex therapy - many men could benefit from a course of counseling or therapy. Sex therapy is particularly necessary if the ED has psychological causes which cannot actually be cured with physical treatments. Sex therapy can help to restore self esteem and sexual confidence. Involve your partner in sex therapy too.

Practice a healthy lifestyle by cutting down on the drinking and quitting the smoking. Take moderate-intensity exercise - brisk walking for example - for half an hour on most days of the week. Eat a balanced diet rich in fruit and vegetables and low in fat. Reduce the stresses in your life.

In recent years, pharmaceutical companies have been developing ED treatments as they have realized the extent of the problem. There are now 3 different brands of tablets known as phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors. Cialis and Levitra work in a similar way to Viagra (the first drug of this type) but take effect more quickly. A 4th drug Uprima comes as a tablet to be dissolved under the tongue and it brings about an erection in about 20 minutes. Prior to such research, men who sought help and medical advice from their doctor were prescribed such treatments as testosterone or penile injections or even penile implants.

Traditional natural healing products for the treatment of ED were not always readily available in the western world. Now you can chose a natural rather than a man-made solution for ED as a safe alternative. With a natural healing product, you retain the power to control your erection as opposed to some oral and man-made drugs which induce an erection for a longer period of time but do not give you the control. A natural healing product will help boost your self esteem and confidence by allowing you to get an erection and to maintain it for as long as desired.

Many men used to feel embarrassed when they sought medical advice for an ED problem but fortunately, the problem has been discussed so openly in the media in recent years, that they are starting to feel more confident about getting help.

#