Erectile Dysfunction and Heart Health
By Jennifer Dubicki, LAc, and Gigi Adduci
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ne of the most important elements in maintaining a healthy relationship is communication. And when the subject is erectile dysfunction (ED), it is vital to get past any awkward feelings and talk things over with your partner. ED is a problem with many solutions, and it is imperative that neither partner blames themselves—or the other. “Men with ED need to know that this isn’t their fault, and their partners need to know the same thing,” says Holly Richmond, Ph.D., a somatic psychologist and certified sex therapist. Erectile dysfunction is a warning sign that something more serious needs your attention. Many cardiologists agree that one of their primary purposes is helping arteries stay young to avoid more severe problems in the future. One method practitioners are using to combat the premature aging of arteries includes GAINSWave therapy—a non-invasive procedure that uses high-frequency shockwaves to enhance male sexual function, performance, and overall health, treating the root cause of ED by increasing blood flow; releasing growth factors in the tissue, forming new blood vessels; and breaking down micro-plaque. ED’s Cardiological Connection Within the inner lining of every artery, including the penile arteries, is a single layer of cells called the endothelium. It is estimated that if stretched out end to end, the endothelium would cover six to seven tennis courts of surface area! Certain lifestyle factors are known to harm the endothelium and its production of nitric oxide, including smoking, hypertension, diabetes, elevated lipids, and obesity, which instigates erectile and endothelial dysfunction. Smoking may be the worst of these factors. ED as a Cardiological Predictor Though not everyone’s ED is linked to heart issues, recent data indicates that identifying the combination of weak erections and another key indicator, such as the presence of diabetes, can very accurately predict future heart events like heart attacks or heart death—more so than inquiring about other factors such as smoking, blood pressure, or even family history of early heart disease. For example, if you are a man between the ages of 40–49
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Identifying the combination of weak erections and another key indicator, such as the presence of diabetes, can predict future heart events like heart attacks—more so than inquiring about other factors such as smoking, blood pressure, or even family history of early heart disease. without known heart disease but with erectile dysfunction, your risk of experiencing new heart events is roughly 50 times higher compared to men the same age not experiencing regular ED. As a basis of comparison, consider that smoking may raise the risk of similar events “only” threefold. Rarely in medicine is there ever a risk indicator this powerful, so it is always worth investigating if you or someone you love begins to suffer from regularly occurring ED. This is vital information that affords patients the time to identify, treat, and reverse arterial damage. Do yourself and your male partner a favor: share this information, teach more people about “survival of the firmest” (as it’s been called by Dr. Michael Greger), and enjoy a lifestyle that promotes arterial health, head to toe— and everywhere in between. Important Next Steps for ED Treatment If you have ED, you should see a physician, perhaps a cardiologist, and someone who will help you detect any associated problems early. In our VPG offices, patients with ED and no known heart issues receive instructions to address their diet, exercise, and stress management, guiding them to an artery-healthy lifestyle that promotes a strong heart and a strong erection. Blood pressure, weight, waist circumference, and lab tests including blood sugar, cholesterol and LDL particle numbers, hs-CRP, homocysteine, and lp(a) will be measured, and an EKG will be performed.
