If you have been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction you should also be concerned about your risks for heart diseases. Likewise, if you have been diagnosed with heart disease, your action on appropriate treatment can help with your erectile dysfunction issues.
In a large-scale study involving 95,000 males over 45 years of age with self-reported impotence issues, the researchers found that there was a direct correlation between cardiovascular disease and erectile dysfunction. This means that as the symptoms of erectile dysfunction become severe, the risks for cardiovascular disease increase.
This is true for both men who have heart diseases and who have no known history of heart disease.This is the first study linking severe erectile dysfunction with high risk for cardiovascular disease hospitalization and mortality so the scientific world is paying close attention.
And so should you! But don’t worry about erectile dysfunction causing heart disease because the researchers did not find a link between the two disorders. Instead, the common culprit is atherosclerosis, a form of arteriosclerosis where fats and cholesterol accumulate on the interior and exterior of the artery walls. The buildup, which is known as plaque, can restrict blood flow in the arteries of the body from the head to the feet including the penis.
Think of the relationship between erectile dysfunction and heart disease in relation to atherosclerosis: The plaque reduces blood flow to the penis, thus, making penile erection difficult to attain and maintain. When it happens, your doctor will look for evidence that the larger arteries supplying blood to your heart, brain and other vital organs are still functioning normally.
When atherosclerosis has affected these internal organs, your doctor will take the necessary steps to treat it and you may well enjoy better erections in the future.