Sunday, February 13, 2011

Erectile Dysfunction vs Heart Disease: Chicken or Egg?

We know that men w/heart disease are also predisposed to have erectile dysfunction (ED).  We understand the pathophysiology, too:  both conditions are due to lack of adequate blood flow.  However, the big question is whether one leads to the other; more specifically, whether ED predicts heart disease later on.

Multiple studies over the last decade have essentially led to the conclusion that ED, in fact, predates heart disease.  Worse, the younger one reports ED, the greater one's chances of having clinically manifest heart disease.  Granted, there are often psychological reasons for ED, but in general, most physicians now agree that ED leads to heart disease.  In fact, a very nice review of the available data was just published.

The next step then is to make ED an acceptable diagnosis and take it out of the closet, just like we've managed to do w/mental illness (although we're still far from our goal there, too).  Once we can acknowledge ED, we can then start screening for heart disease at an earlier subclinical stage where we can make (population level) changes to minimize the impact of heart disease on our families, our nation, and our economy.

Of course, by screening, we spend more money (which we don't have).  The flip side is that we're stimulating the economy, right?  Well, we can't screen everyone, at least not right now, it's just not practical.  But this review posits a simple algorithm to stratify those with ED into low, intermediate, and high risk of heart disease based upon age and other known cardiovascular risk factors.  The author focuses specifically on those in the intermediate risk group for further evaluation with our current set of tools.  And just who are those men?  Anyone w/cardiovascular risk factors (that's obvious) regardless of erectile function as well as those men <60yo w/ED who may (or may not) have cardiovascular risk factors.

3 comments:

  1. As patients it is our budget that we consider first. To avoid long medication and high expenses, choose the best doctor for ED. Try check online for medication and consultation.



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  2. Some doctors would say that ED is cause by heart disease. But with this health problem if we manage to keep ourselves healthy and strong, a greater chance to be free from ED. Avoid health problem they are too much expensive now a days. To consult doctors about it check online websites.



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  3. Causes of erectile problems to young men:
    1. This can happen due to poor diet and lack of

    excercises and can cause serious health effects.
    2. It can be happened because of obesity,heart

    disease, high blood pressure, hypertension, high

    cholesterol and diabetes.
    3. Obesity can lead to erectile problem for the 20-

    30 years old men.
    4. Taking of viagra when they supposed not be can

    also lead to erectile problem sometime. More

    importantly viagra can cause damage to the blood

    vessels and nerves in the penis, which can cause

    permanent erectile problems.
    5. Excessive drink or use of drugs are more likely

    to experience symptoms of erectile dysfunction,

    because drugs and alcohol have an effect on the

    central nervous system.
    There are more reasons which can lead us to erectile

    problem in early age. We can prevent erectile

    problem by avoiding the above mentioned reasons. But

    if someone already suffering of erectile problem,

    there are lots of medicines available to cure from

    this disease and I know about one named
    "veyromax"

    which is a proven medicine for this problem. So

    those who are suffering by erectile problem can try

    this "veyromax". you can find this- Visit veyromax

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