{"id":7696,"date":"2016-12-18T01:32:20","date_gmt":"2014-12-18T01:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.edrugstore.md\/blog\/?p=7696"},"modified":"2014-12-18T18:15:50","modified_gmt":"2014-12-18T18:15:50","slug":"american-heart-association-vascular-disease-risks-erection-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edrugstore.com\/blog\/erectile-dysfunction\/american-heart-association-vascular-disease-risks-erection-health\/","title":{"rendered":"American Heart Association: Vascular Disease Risks Erection Health"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Men
Men with early-stage vascular problems are more likely to develop erection problems than men with no signs of vascular disease, according to an American Heart Association study.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The American Heart Association\u2019s recent statement linking early-stage vascular disease with an increased likelihood of developing erection problems is yet another reminder of how closely impotence and cardiovascular disease are linked.<\/p>\n

Although no man is likely to wish upon himself either erection problems or a heart attack or stroke, it\u2019s seems a fairly sure bet that almost all would rather experience some difficulty getting an erection than to suffer a full-blown heart attack.<\/p>\n

Fortunately Nature has designed men\u2019s bodies in such a way that problems of impotence are almost certain to show up well in advance of serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, or peripheral artery disease. Thus, erection problems become an early-warning system that all is not well with our vascular health, giving us some time to try to head off more serious problems.<\/p>\n

Blood Flow Is Key<\/b><\/p>\n

All of these problems have to do with the level of blood flow that is going to the organs most directly involved. If arteries feeding the brain or heart become sufficiently clogged as to constitute a blockage, a stroke or heart attack is almost certain to occur. Likewise if your lower legs and feet are not getting an adequate supply of oxygen-rich blood to supply their needs, acute pain in the affected limbs may follow.<\/p>\n

When your penis isn\u2019t getting enough blood to support an erection, impotence is the result. However, because the arteries supplying the penis are miniscule compared with those that feed the heart, brain, and lower limbs, you\u2019re far more likely to have erection problems well before you begin to experience trouble elsewhere in your circulatory system.<\/p>\n

An Important Reminder <\/b><\/p>\n

So while the AHA\u2019s most recent statement about the linkage between erection problems and declining vascular health isn\u2019t really new, it\u2019s a reminder that bears repeating as often as possible in the hope that it will encourage men to take action to head off a serious cardiovascular incident.<\/p>\n

Count yourself lucky if you get — and recognize — such an early-warning signal because taking quick remedial action can help to prevent a more serious health event from ever taking place.<\/p>\n

Putting it more bluntly, New York internist Steven Lamm, M.D., author of \u00a8The Hardness Factor,\u00a8 told WebMD that he believes the best measure of his overall health is his erect penis. In his book, Dr. Lamm argues that the quality of a man\u2019s erection is a direct reflection of his overall health.<\/p>\n

Protecting Erectile Function <\/b><\/p>\n

\"If
If caught earlier enough, men may be able to erase the effects of vascular disease by making healthy lifestyle choices, including participating in a program of regular physical activity.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If the promise of a longer and healthier life isn\u2019t enough to convince men to take better care of themselves, Dr. Lamm hopes that perhaps getting better erections might serve as sufficient incentive to improve their health. \u00a8It\u2019s still the greatest hook to get men to make some real changes,\u00a8 says Dr. Lamm.<\/p>\n

The most recent pronouncement from the AHA on the link between vascular disease and erection problems came in the form of research presentations at the organization\u2019s Scientific Sessions held in Chicago in November 2014.<\/p>\n

Echoing what Dr. Lamm and many before him have said, David I. Feldman, lead author of the research study, told conference attendees that \u00a8erectile function can be a window into men\u2019s cardiovascular and overall health.\u00a8 Feldman, research assistant at the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease at Johns Hopkins, explained that his research study group was made up of 1,862 men without existing heart disease.<\/p>\n

According to Feldman, researchers assessed the link between early atherosclerotic plaque development and arterial stiffness and dysfunction with the study subjects\u2019 subsequent self-reporting of erection problems.<\/p>\n

Link Well Recognized <\/b><\/p>\n

While the link between cardiovascular disease and impotence is well recognized, Feldman said researchers were trying to identify \u00a8which measurement of early vascular disease was the best predictor for erectile dysfunction. We also looked at whether those men with multiple abnormalities, such as increased plaque in addition to arterial stiffness and dysfunction, were more likely to also suffer from erectile dysfunction.\u00a8<\/p>\n

Feldman summarized the study\u2019s findings as follows:<\/p>\n