Erectile dysfunction: The leading indicator of heart disease in men
If you need Viagra or drugs like it to rise to the occasion with your lady, you could be at risk for a heart attack.
That's according to CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who is exploring heart disease in a special Sunday on the 24-hour cable news channel. Dr. Gupta says erectile dysfunction is a leading indicator of troubles in the ol' ticker. Some 30 million guys in America suffer from some degree of ED.
He said understanding the connection between ED and heart disease is especially important because it may help in early diagnosis and treatment before heart problems become serious.
Researchers found men with ED are 1.6 times more likely to suffer from a serious cardiovascular problem such as heart attack or stroke, according to a 2010 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Dr. Gupta said most drugs prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction were originally developed to treat chest pains.
For men having issues with ED, they should talk to their doctors about a cardiology workup to determine existing cardiovascular disease and proper treatment.
A lifestyle change may be necessary as well. Eating better, watching cholesterol, stopping smoking, and exercising more may be beneficial.
While drugs for erectile dysfunction may cure the initial problem, they do not protect against cardiovascular or other life-threatening illnesses so figuring out the root of the problem first is key.
