February 10, 2009 – Erectile dysfunction in men in their 40s could be a harbinger of latent heart trouble. This is what the results of a study indicate1 conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic among 1,400 men aged 40 to 79, followed for ten years.
At the start of the study, all subjects were sexually active and none had been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. According to the results, men who had suffered from erectile dysfunction in their forties had their risk of developing heart disease increased fivefold in subsequent years.
According to the authors of the study, the effects of progressive atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries appear first in small blood vessels, such as those in the penis. These small vessels, which are responsible for erection, are said to be more sensitive than the coronary arteries to the effects of calcifications which are at the origin of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is the presence of plaque on the inner walls of the arteries that obstructs the flow of blood. When it affects several arteries at the same time, it increases the risk of angina pectoris and myocardial infarction.
The medical treatments recommended to treat erectile dysfunction could just as well help to slow down or even slow down the progression of atherosclerosis and thus prevent the risk of heart disease, the researchers argue. Taking antihypertensive medication, losing weight and quitting smoking could also help treat both erectile dysfunction and lower the risk of coronary heart disease.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
1. Inman BA, Save JL, et al. A population-based, longitudinal study of erectile dysfunction and future coronary artery disease. Mayo Clin Proc. 2009 Feb; 84 (2): 108-13.
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