Erectile Dysfunction: early indicator of heart disease

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is significant as it is an early indicator of underlying vascular disease. Erectile dysfunction or Impotence which is generally caused by decreased blood flow to the penis is generally an early indicator of coronary artery disease. ED is a strong risk factor for underlying heart disease. This research study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Impotence is an sex problem in which man failed to keep erection to satisfy the needs of the female partner. Around 25 million American men are suffering from Erectile Dysfunction. 10% of men are suffering from impotence all over the world but few are getting treatment. ED severly impacts man's ego and most of them never share this erection problem with anyone.
Erectile Dysfunction is not only caused by vascular disease but also due to neurological and physiological factors. But every ED patient should be evaluated for heart disease especially coronary artery disease. We should aggressively control blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels in these patients.

But according to new research studies, sex is not as dangerous as many think in heart failure patients. But these patients lose interest in sex mainly due to depression and drug side effects.

Regular exercise and staying away from smoking and alcohol drinking may help to get relief from erectile dysfunction. Impotence severly impacts man's self confidence thereby causes depression which again impacts sex life. Psychotherapy plays vital role in treating these patients.

Smoking is another major risk factor for Erectile Dysfunction.