Erectile problems may signal future heart disease

	Tweet

Middle-aged men who stay slim usually have a low risk of developing heart disease, but if they have erection difficulties that could be an early warning sign of trouble ahead.

In such men, erectile dysfunction is associated with metabolic syndrome, which is often a precursor of heart disease and diabetes, a new study shows.

The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of symptoms—including fat accumulation around the belly, poor regulation of insulin, abnormal blood fat levels and borderline High Blood Pressure—that represent an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes, the researchers explain in The Journal of Urology.

Dr. Varant Kupelian of the New England Research Institutes in Watertown, Massachusetts, and colleagues point out that finding a way to identify people at risk of developing metabolic syndrome could help prevent them progressing to full-blown diabetes and heart disease.

The team analyzed data on a group of 928 men who were initially free of metabolic syndrome who were followed for 15 years. Fifty-six of the men had erectile dysfunction at the study’s outset, while 293 developed the metabolic syndrome during the course of the study.

Overall, the researchers found, body weight affected the association between erectile dysfunction and the development of metabolic syndrome.

Among men with a body mass index greater than 25—the upper limit of normal—there was no link between erectile dysfunction and risk of developing the metabolic syndrome. However, men with BMIs below 25 and erectile difficulties were about twice as likely to develop the syndrome.

“This finding suggests that erectile dysfunction may provide a warning sign and an opportunity for early intervention in men otherwise considered at lower risk for the metabolic syndrome and subsequent cardiovascular disease,” the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: The Journal of Urology, July 2006

RELATED STORIES:
Increased age of sexual consent in Canada may not protect teens at greatest risk: UBC study   Is your laptop cooking your testicles?   Abused girls may have higher risk of heart disease, stroke as adults   Genetic variations impact sexual desire   For Young Boys with Cancer, A Possible Option to Preserve Fertility   Screening and Treatment for Vaginal Infections in Pregnancy   Multi-pronged approach curbs risky sex in the HIV+   Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!   Study Challenges Myth That Sex Late in Pregnancy Hastens Birth   More STDs for Older Widowers in ED Drug Era   US urged to allow wider emergency contraception   Opioid Pain Relievers Can Cause Sex Problems; Treatment Helps   Many pregnant women may not get STD tests   Many women keep having, enjoying sex as they age   Cardiovascular, Breast Safety Study of LibiGel In Women with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]