Men suffering from erectile dysfunction may need to worry more about their hearts than their diminished sexual function, says a Texas researcher.
Dr. Stephen Lapin, a urologist with The Methodist Hospital in Houston, says an early warning sign of heart disease is when atherosclerotic plaque begins to form in the blood vessels, restricting blood flow. This plaque is more damaging to penile circulation than in other vessels due to their small size.
Erectile dysfunction affects more than 300 million men worldwide between the ages of 40 and 70.
However, Lapin believes if urologists are aware of this connection they can alert their patients, who can then make changes in diet and exercise to protect their hearts. |
