Erectile dysfunction is strong predictor of fatal heart ailments, study finds

[jannyk]

Source: LATimes

For the first time, researchers have shown that erectile dysfunction is a strong predictor of the likelihood that men will die of heart disease. Men who suffer from the problem, which some consider more an emotional than a physical issue, are twice as likely to succumb to cardiovascular disease or heart attacks as those who do not have the problem, German researchers reported Monday in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Assn.

Researchers have known for years that there is a link between erectile dysfunction, commonly abbreviated as ED, and heart disease, said Dr. Sahil Parikh, an interventional cardiologist from University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland who was not involved in the study. "But now there is pretty clear evidence that there is a substantially increased risk of heart attack and death when patients have erectile dysfunction.

Existing guidelines for treating men with ED from the Princeton Consensus Conference already state that "a man with ED and no cardiac symptoms is a cardiac (or vascular) patient until proven otherwise." Kloner, a coauthor of those guidelines, said that when the guidelines are updated this year, they will probably carry a stronger recommendation that a patient presenting with ED get a cardiovascular examination.

Disappointingly, the two drugs tested in the study, ramipril and telmisartan, did not improve the course of the ED. That's not surprising, said Dr. Peter Pelikan, a cardiologist at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, "because it takes years and years and years to get any resorption of cholesterol" that would reduce blockage of the penile arteries. "The study was too small and too short to see that."






Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-sci-ed-heart16-2010mar16,0,6988279.story?track=rss

[rocktivity]

1. Candidate for this year's "You Call This NEWS?" award

I don't need a study see where the prospect of no sex could trigger a heart attack!

:evilgrin:
rocktivity

[hlthe2b]

2. Well, duh...

This is pretty obvious to anyone with minimal medical background, yet ED patients have been led to believe that it simply their lack of little blue pills--nothing more.

I wonder over time what long term risk viagra and other similar drugs will have shown for reducing lifespan for these men. (Yes, I realize that many men might find it a not unreasonable trade-off for "quality of life," but I think they should be made aware that they may of the risks)

[DemoTex]

3. "The study was too small and too short to see that."

Oh. I bet it WAS! Too small and too short.

:rofl:

[Still Blue in PDX]

25. Didn't see you beat me to it.

This line just stuck out like a . . .

oh, never mind.

[itsrobert]

4. No heart attacks for me.

:)

[ConcernedCanuk]

28. If the coverse is true,

.
.
.

Then I will NOT die from heart disease.

:silly:

[WCGreen]

5. Isn't it all about blood flow...

Jesus, If I couldn't get a woody I would think it had something to do with Blood Pressure or Blood Flow to the extremities.

[pattmarty]

6. Well, looks like "can't get it up?" has suddenly become a "pre-existing condition".

[SemperEadem]

18. Pattmarty for the win!!!!!!!

[FSogol]

7. Call your doctor if your heart attack lasts for more than four hours....

:shrug:

[damyank913]

12. Too Funny...

:rofl:

[No Elephants]

8. So, why is Cheney still alive?

[damyank913]

13. Silly Rabbit...

Demons don't die...

[DavidDvorkin]

9. It's odd that this is seen as a joking matter

It's always bothered me that Viagra and similar drugs are advertised so heavily and that men with erection problems are urged to get the drug and solve the problem that way. I always thought that the first thing such a man should do is go to his doctor and ask if there's a serious underlying problem that needs to be treated.

[mopinko]

27. a responsible doc

does a thorough exam before prescribing.
but a lot of this has to do with treating a side effect of medication. lots of guys would rather have sex than keep their blood pressure under control.

[Odin2005]

10. Wasn't Viagra originally studied as a heart drug?

[damyank913]

11. Yep-they found out it had cool side effects.

[elocs]

14. Yes, I read that here earlier this morning.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x84117

[demwing]

15. That's probably due to the medicines they take

which give them 4 hour erections.

that can't be good for the heart....

[Mari333]

16. duh.

my 44 yr old little brother, who had open heart quadruple bypass surgery, said that was one of the first things he lost until after the surgery..
he is now a vegan, AND a republican...he called me asking my advice on how to eat properly

he said he is up to snuff now, so to speak, in all areas..

maybe one way to sell the idea of eating healthier is to tell people they can have bigger hardons? Its a thought.

[dotymed]

20. Diet is very important

but I have not found it effective in "that" area. My S.O. is a great cook who uses only "weight watcher" and "heart smart" recipes (they are excellent, I would have never believed it) unfortunately, the meds are the only thing that gives me a semblance of what I took for granted for years. I hope these men realize that they are treating a symptom and not a disease. BTW, the insurance companies have decided that 6 (3 day time release) pills are adequate monthly. It allows spontaneity, but for only half a month :grr: . That is much better than the discrimination that women must suffer for their reproductive choices. It is a personal decision (quality over quantity of life), the BP meds that will prolong my life longer, made me sleep all the time. I informed my Dr. that while I wanted time, I also want quality. So I now take BP meds that do not keep me as tired. This may be funny to many of you now, but pertinent in the future. After my first heart stent I awoke with a "woody" (the first time in years) and thought I was ready to face the world with a new vitality. Many stents later, that is not the case...appreciate what you have. I do and I am very grateful. :bounce:

[No Elephants]

22. Was he always a Republican, or only after he became a vegan?

[The Shadow Knows]

17. I guess "Hardening of the Arteries"

is simply a euphemism for limp arteries ???

[Botany]

19. I love you from the bottom of my heart

Look I even have a heart on.

What you don't want to have sex with me? We have to have sex right now you know
Doctors' orders.

[kestrel91316]

21. Interesting. My BF from 2001-2006 had some issues with this (I will

mercifully not name him here, though he deserves it). He also was moderately overweight and had a family history of fatal heart attacks in the men in his family aged 50-60.

Interesting.

[Still Blue in PDX]

23. "The study was too small and too short."

Cardiovascular disease is no laughing matter. but this one line just tickles me to death.

:rofl:

[Still Blue in PDX]

24. delete for dumbness

[NickB79]

26. You have ED? You're boned!