According to new research published in the journal Circulation, men suffering from both erectile dysfunction and heart disease are twice as likely to have a fatal heart attack.
The five year study involving 1519 men with pre-existing heart disease noted that 11.3 percent of the 55 percent of patients who also suffered from erectile dysfunction died of a heart attack over the course of the study, compared to a death rate of just 5.6 percent in those who experienced symptoms of heart disease alone.
Dr Michael Bohm, head of cardiology at the University of Saarland, Germany and author of the trial stated that “ED is an early predictor of cardiovascular disease…and might be a symptom of early atherosclerosis” He suggests that atherosclerosis (or hardening of the arteries) may effect erectile function before other symptoms of heart disease become apparent because of the relatively small size of the penile arteries.
Concerned that doctors are often too quick to treat symptoms of erectile dysfunction with anti-impotence drugs such as Viagra and Cialis, instead of determining the root cause of the condition, Bohm states that “Men with ED need to be referred for a cardiology workup to determine existing cardiovascular disease and proper treatment.”
According to Bohm the real problem lies in the fact that when anti-impotence drugs work, men tend to consider the problem solved. In his opinion, failure to identify or treat underlying heart conditions in those presenting with erectile dysfunction is risking the lives of a significant number of men.
With previous research pointing to a strong link between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease, together with the new finding, those exhibiting symptoms of ED are advised to consult a doctor to determine the real underlying cause.
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