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continued:

Erectile dysfunction: A sign of heart disease?

Certain men are at increased risk

These factors all increase the likelihood that your erectile dysfunction could be a sign of underlying atherosclerosis and heart disease:

  • Having diabetes. Men who have diabetes are at especially high risk of erectile dysfunction, heart disease and other problems caused by restricted blood flow.
  • Your age. The younger you are, the more likely your erectile dysfunction is a sign that you are at risk of heart disease. Men under age 50 are at especially high risk. In men over age 70, erectile dysfunction is much less likely to be a sign of heart disease.
  • Being overweight. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of both heart disease and erectile dysfunction due to atherosclerosis and other reasons.
  • Having high cholesterol. A high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis.
  • Being a smoker. Smoking cigarettes raises your risk of developing atherosclerosis. It also directly affects your ability to get an erection.
  • Having high blood pressure. Over time, high blood pressure damages the lining of your arteries and accelerates the process of atherosclerosis.
  • Having a family member with heart disease. It's more likely your erectile dysfunction could be linked to heart disease if you have a blood relative such as a sibling or parent who had heart disease at a young age.
  • Being depressed. There's some evidence that depression is associated with an increased chance of having heart problems — and erectile dysfunction.

Treatment for erectile dysfunction caused by heart disease

If your doctor thinks you may be at risk of heart disease, making simple lifestyle changes such as exercising, changing your diet or losing weight may be enough to help keep your heart healthy — and improve your ability to have an erection. If you have more serious signs and symptoms of heart disease, you may need further tests or treatment. If you have both erectile dysfunction and heart disease, talk to your doctor about treatment options for erectile dysfunction. If you are on certain heart medications, especially nitrates, it is not safe to use many of the medications used to treat erectile dysfunction.

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References
  1. Lue TF. Physiology of penile erection and pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction. In: Wein AJ. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/198358299-3/0/1445/24.html?tocnode=54301159&fromURL=24.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-7216-0798-6..50023-6_1722. Accessed April 10, 2010.
  2. Inman BA, et al. A population-based longitudinal study of erectile dysfunction and future coronary artery disease. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2009;84:108.
  3. Goldstein I. The mutually reinforcing triad of depressive symptoms, heart disease, and erectile dysfunction. American Journal of Cardiology. 2000;86(suppl):41F.
  4. Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 26, 2010.
HB00074 May 14, 2010

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