Screen for Erectile Dysfunction to predict heart diseases

In today’s time, many men are diagnosed with erectile dysfunction (ED). And yet, too few doctors are using that condition as a stepping point for a discussion of heart disease. In truth, erectile dysfunction is predictive of heart disease in many cases. This has been found in more than one study on the relationship between heart disease and erectile dysfunction.

One study indicated that men who had erectile dysfunction had twice the risk of heart attack or death than those who did not have ED. It has been suggested, therefore, that all men who have the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction be screened for heart disease.

This is because ED is caused by a poor blood supply to the penile arteries—blood supply that can be just as poor as it might be in the coronary arteries. This relationship is where the correlation between ED and heart disease comes from.

Other experts believe that screening for erectile dysfunction should begin at age 40, simply by asking the question of the man at a regular physical or at any doctor’s appointment. If a man screens positive for erectile dysfunction, he should go on to have a cardiac stress test or other screening test for heart disease.

The penile arteries are much smaller than the coronary arteries so they tend to clog faster than the arteries of the heart. Nevertheless, a blockage in the penile arteries might indicate early coronary artery disease.

In one study, men with ED and without ED were studied for up to five years. Incidence of heart disease and stroke were looked for and factors like smoking history were adjusted for. It was found that ten percent more men with ED had a stroke and 20 percent more men were with ED were likely to have heart failure requiring hospitalization.

And when men are treated with medication for erectile dysfunction, they often don’t come back for further treatment. They continue to build up cholesterol plaques in their arteries and heart disease risk remains elevated.

The new studies don’t change the previous knowledge that heart disease and erectile dysfunction are related; rather, the latest studies indicate that the correlation is high and that men should be screened for heart disease if they have any evidence of erectile dysfunction. There should be screening for impotence as soon as they reach forty and screened again for heart disease if erectile dysfunction is found.