Erectile Dysfunction & Heart Disease: Their Strong Connection

Erectile dysfunction is not just frustrating and unpleasant in the bedroom. It can also lead to a life threatening disease. According to a Mayo Clinic study, men with erectile dysfunction have an 80% chance of having heart disease in the future. Also, younger men with ED between age 40 and 49 are at double the risk of getting heart disease.


Erectile Dysfunction Risk = Heart Disease Risk

It turns out that the risk factors for both diseases are closely linked, too. If you have any of the following risk factors, you could be at risk for ED and/or heart disease:

-An unhealthy LDL (bad cholesterol) level. People at risk for heart disease should have an LDL below 100. Those with a very high risk of heart disease need to keep their bad cholesterol even lower, under 70. The next time you have a check-up, make sure your doctor not only gives you your total cholesterol number, but also your HDL and LDL levels. Eating good fats lowers bad cholesterol. Check out this list of foods to put on your grocery list that will lower your cholesterol.

-Being overweight or obese. According to the National Institutes of Health, men with a BMI of 27.8 or higher are considered overweight. A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. There are safe and natural ways to increase your metabolism and lose weight, even if you have heart disease.

-High blood pressure (hypertension). A healthy blood pressure is at or below 120/80. Your blood pressure is naturally lowered for up to 24 hours after a brisk walk. You can learn more about other natural ways to lower blood pressure on MyHeartPatientDiet.com.

-Diabetes can damage the blood vessels that supply the penis. This interrupts the natural process of an erection which can cause ED. If you already have prediabetes, you could lower your risk for getting full blown type 2 diabetes by losing 5% to 7% of your weight and walking for a half hour on most days of the week. For a 200 pound man, that's only 10 to 14 pounds.

-Smoking doubles your chances of getting ED and causes hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).

-Poor mental health. The mind-body connection is a strong one. Stress and depression are linked to ED, heart disease and many other health problems. Make a goal to lead a balanced lifestyle, get plenty of sleep, take frequent brisk walks, and eat a balanced diet. Combine these lifestyle changes with medical intervention such as counseling or medication as directed by your doctor.



Heart Drugs That Cause ED Symptoms


Are you taking heart medications and experiencing symptoms of erectile dysfunction? Some high blood pressure and heart failure drugs can cause ED symptoms. If you're having negative side effects from your medicine, don't stop taking it. Talk to your doctor about your side effects with the goal of developing a plan to minimize or eliminate them.

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