Erectile dysfunction is rarely an isolated problem. It can be a warning sign of greater threats to men's health.
Once upon a time, erectile dysfunction was thought to be all in your head, the result of a psychological problem. Now we know that notion is for the most part false and that, more than a problem limited to having an erection, erectile dysfunction is almost always a warning sign of a more serious medical issue. In fact about 70 percent of erectile dysfunction is probably related to diabetes, kidney disease, and heart disease. And it can be traced to several other illnesses affecting men's health as well.
This is why, sexual performance aside, if you have erectile dysfunction, you should see your physician.
What Your Erection Says About Men's Health
Knowing the connection between erectile dysfunction and these other men's health issues will help you be proactive about your well-being:
Heart disease. Since the penis is made up of blood vessels and spongy tissue, a problem with blood flow to the penis usually means there's already a problem with blood flow to other parts of the body that's gone undetected. Emerging science shows that erectile dysfunction can indicate other types of vascular or arterial disease, such as heart attacks and stroke. Studies have shown that men who have erectile dysfunction and no history of heart attack go on to have heart attacks sooner than their counterparts without erectile dysfunction.
One such study, published in the journal Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, looked at more than 1,400 men and found a strong association between erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease in men. The researchers also concluded that the presence of erectile dysfunction in younger men was a strong risk factor for a future coronary event.
It would be a good idea for anyone with erectile dysfunction to get screened for their cardiovascular risk factors, including cholesterol and blood pressure. In fact, when those underlying issues are corrected, many times the erectile dysfunction itself improves or could resolve.
Diabetes. One of the worst complications of uncontrolled diabetes is nerve and blood vessel damage. Because both these functions are critical to maintaining an erection, it's not surprising that diabetes is tied to erectile dysfunction - men ages 45 and younger should know that erectile dysfunction is actually a significant warning sign of diabetes. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that men diagnosed with diabetes often experience problems with erectile dysfunction 10 to 15 years earlier in life than ED typically strikes. And overall, the incidence of ED among men with diabetes is high - according to a recent study of 555 Italian men with type 2 diabetes, about 60 percent had some form of erectile dysfunction, a much higher rate than among the general population. The study found that factors that can help control diabetes, such as good exercise and diet habits, were also helpful for erectile dysfunction symptoms.
Thyroid diseases. The thyroid gland produces hormones that impact functions throughout the body. So when the thyroid gland is producing too many or too few hormones, your ability to get an erection can be affected. Erectile dysfunction is both a symptom of too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) and too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism). For hyperthyroidism, other symptoms to look for include anxiety, irritability, shaky hands, unexplained weight loss, rapid heart rate, and diarrhea. For hypothyroidism, expect to experience fatigue, listlessness, a slow heart rate, constipation, and weight gain.
HIV. A review article that looked at the results of many studies of men with HIV found that rates of erectile dysfunction were higher among those in the HIV-positive community than in other men. The reasons for the higher rates of erection problems aren't completely known, but researchers theorize that it might be a combination of hormonal changes and psychological issues.
Other health conditions. Erectile dysfunction can be tied to other health problems, including kidney disease, alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, other endocrine disorders, and neurologic disease.
In each case, the disease can affect one or more of the mechanisms that affect the formation of an erection. For your sexual health and your overall health, you owe it to yourself to find out what's behind your erectile dysfunction and get the treatment you need.
Once upon a time, erectile dysfunction was thought to be all in your head, the result of a psychological problem. Now we know that notion is for the most part false and that, more than a problem limited to having an erection, erectile dysfunction is almost always a warning sign of a more serious medical issue. In fact about 70 percent of erectile dysfunction is probably related to diabetes, kidney disease, and heart disease. And it can be traced to several other illnesses affecting men's health as well.
This is why, sexual performance aside, if you have erectile dysfunction, you should see your physician.
What Your Erection Says About Men's Health
Knowing the connection between erectile dysfunction and these other men's health issues will help you be proactive about your well-being:
Heart disease. Since the penis is made up of blood vessels and spongy tissue, a problem with blood flow to the penis usually means there's already a problem with blood flow to other parts of the body that's gone undetected. Emerging science shows that erectile dysfunction can indicate other types of vascular or arterial disease, such as heart attacks and stroke. Studies have shown that men who have erectile dysfunction and no history of heart attack go on to have heart attacks sooner than their counterparts without erectile dysfunction.
One such study, published in the journal Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, looked at more than 1,400 men and found a strong association between erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease in men. The researchers also concluded that the presence of erectile dysfunction in younger men was a strong risk factor for a future coronary event.
It would be a good idea for anyone with erectile dysfunction to get screened for their cardiovascular risk factors, including cholesterol and blood pressure. In fact, when those underlying issues are corrected, many times the erectile dysfunction itself improves or could resolve.
Diabetes. One of the worst complications of uncontrolled diabetes is nerve and blood vessel damage. Because both these functions are critical to maintaining an erection, it's not surprising that diabetes is tied to erectile dysfunction - men ages 45 and younger should know that erectile dysfunction is actually a significant warning sign of diabetes. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that men diagnosed with diabetes often experience problems with erectile dysfunction 10 to 15 years earlier in life than ED typically strikes. And overall, the incidence of ED among men with diabetes is high - according to a recent study of 555 Italian men with type 2 diabetes, about 60 percent had some form of erectile dysfunction, a much higher rate than among the general population. The study found that factors that can help control diabetes, such as good exercise and diet habits, were also helpful for erectile dysfunction symptoms.
Thyroid diseases. The thyroid gland produces hormones that impact functions throughout the body. So when the thyroid gland is producing too many or too few hormones, your ability to get an erection can be affected. Erectile dysfunction is both a symptom of too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) and too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism). For hyperthyroidism, other symptoms to look for include anxiety, irritability, shaky hands, unexplained weight loss, rapid heart rate, and diarrhea. For hypothyroidism, expect to experience fatigue, listlessness, a slow heart rate, constipation, and weight gain.
HIV. A review article that looked at the results of many studies of men with HIV found that rates of erectile dysfunction were higher among those in the HIV-positive community than in other men. The reasons for the higher rates of erection problems aren't completely known, but researchers theorize that it might be a combination of hormonal changes and psychological issues.
Other health conditions. Erectile dysfunction can be tied to other health problems, including kidney disease, alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, other endocrine disorders, and neurologic disease.
In each case, the disease can affect one or more of the mechanisms that affect the formation of an erection. For your sexual health and your overall health, you owe it to yourself to find out what's behind your erectile dysfunction and get the treatment you need.
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