A recent large-scale analysis of relevant scientific data indicates that men with erectile dysfunction are much more likely to experience a heart attack or stroke than men with no symptoms of impotence.
As if erectile dysfunction weren’t troubling enough, recent research indicates that men with ED face a significantly higher risk of heart attack and stroke than men with normal erectile function.
This alarming conclusion emerges from a systematic review of 25 relevant scientific studies covering more than 150,000 men. The meta-analysis, conducted by a team of Chinese scientists, found that men with ED have a 59 percent higher risk of heart attack and a 34 percent higher risk of stroke than men with no symptoms of impotence.
An Early Warning Sign
The good news, according to preventive cardiologist Ron Blankstein, is that symptoms of ED “can develop actually years before men have other signs or symptoms of cardiovascular events.” This means that ED can serve as an early warning sign of more serious health consequences that may lie ahead. And armed with that warning, men with ED can take steps to improve not only their erectile function but also to reduce the risk of more severe cardiovascular disease.
In an interview with CNN.com, Blankstein, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, stressed that an occasional inability to get and keep an erection suitable for intercourse should not be interpreted as proof positive that you have ED.
See a Doctor If Problem Persists
However, a persistent inability to achieve and sustain an erection should be reason enough to consult your doctor about the problem. And if the doctor confirms that it’s ED, said Blankstein, “a man really needs to pay aggressive attention to potentially having heart disease.”
Likening ED to the “canary in the coal mine,” Blankstein pointed out that the artery that delivers blood to the penis is much smaller in diameter than those that supply the heart and brain and thus is more likely to become clogged earlier than the others.
Early Treatment Is Vital
In the conclusion to its review, published in the July 2019 issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, the Chinese research team said that men with ED face a sharply higher risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality. The researchers said the evidence “suggests the need for diligent observation of at-risk men and reinforces the importance of early treatment to prevent CV events.”
Blankstein also stressed that the most important step a man can take to improve his underlying cardiovascular health and possibly improve erectile function is to quit smoking. “Smoking is the single most important modifiable risk factor, both for heart disease and for erectile dysfunction,” he said.
Other Important Steps
But that’s just the beginning. Dropping excess weight and exercising on a regular basis are also helpful in improving overall cardiovascular function, as is eating a healthy diet, according to Blankstein. An example of a heart-healthy eating plan is the so-called Mediterranean diet, which is heavy on its consumption of plant-based foods and much more limited on its intake of animal-based foods. The diet also includes healthy fats such as olive oil.
And a diagnosis of ED doesn’t have to mean an end to your sex life. ED caused by insufficient blood flow to the penis can be treated with oral medications such as Viagra and Cialis. They are not a cure for ED, but they do temporarily restore near-normal erectile function, allowing impotent men to participate in sexual activity.
Benefits of Ordering Online
Men who use ED drugs often find that they can save time and money by purchasing them online from eDrugstore.com, a longtime prescription drug service based in Tempe, Arizona. It stocks a full range of ED products, including both brand-name and generic medications.
By ordering online, you’ll avoid bothersome trips to and from the drugstore, as well as time spent waiting for your prescription to be filled. And if you don’t yet have a prescription, eDrugstore has got you covered. It will set up a complimentary online consultation with a licensed U.S. physician who can authorize a prescription if appropriate. That service alone can save you plenty of time and money. To learn more, visit eDrugstore’s Erectile Dysfunction page.
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