Health and Fitness : 'ED' could mean losing your life, not just your sex life

Dr. Brian Meeker, Vinton Family Medical Clinic

Hey guys, despite what the TV commercials for Cialis and Viagra seem to suggest, erectile dysfunction isn’t just about your sex life, it may mean the difference between life and death itself.

ED may mean you’re getting an early warning about your risk factors for a heart attack or stroke. That’s the bad news. The good news is that early on in the progression of ED you may have 3 to 5 years advance warning of a major problem like a heart attack or stroke. That’s enough time to get your habits and your ED under control before experiencing those very nasty events.

The best advice is to talk with your doctor. Your doctor will discuss risk factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, diet, and obesity……yes all those pesky issues are related to ED and cardio-vascular disease. Your doctor may also order some blood tests for cholesterol and other issues if needed. Perhaps more importantly, your doctor may help you stay committed to achieving better health.

Here’s what the future looks like if your embarrassment, denial, or unwillingness to get your habits under control keeps you from dealing with ED now. In the early stages the endothelial lining of your blood vessels prevents their proper dilation and the penis doesn’t fill with blood; ED. Then as atherosclerosis progresses there is further buildup of plaques and blood flow is slowed to your heart and the rest of your body. When blood flow to the heart is blocked by a blood clot over the plaque we call it a heart attack. A similar event in the brain is called a stroke.

What can be done about the condition?

• Improve your diet to prevent diabetes.
• Kick the tobacco habit.
• Drastically cut back or cut out alcohol use.
• Get high blood pressure under control.
• Reduce high LDL cholesterol.
• Drop the excess weight.

If you’re younger than 50 and have ED you’re at especially high risk of heart disease. If you’re older than 70 ED may be more a result of aging. Regardles of your age, remember that ED can be an important indicator of your cardio-vascular health.

Is male biology pre-wired to die at an earlier age than females, or are men especially guilty of ignoring their health and not being honest with their doctors? We think it’s time to change the way men deal with their health and keep men enjoying life longer.

With Dr. Brian Meeker