Erectile Dysfunction a Red Flag for Mortality, Cardiovascular Events

This isn’t hair loss related, but it is still important medical news —

In a recent publication, erectile dysfunction (ED) was found to be a robust predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in men with cardiovascular disease or those with risk factors for cardiac disease. The connection between the blood vessels of the heart and the penis show that the blood vessels of the penis mimic those of the heart when there is significant cardiovascular disease present. These findings were recently published online March 15 in the medical journal called Circulation.

Treatment of cardiac disease, once recognized, can reduce the risks of cardiac death. The findings suggest that ED is a manifestation of cardiovascular risk. They conclude: “ED is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular death and of major cardiovascular events in high-risk patients and represents a symptom of more advanced atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction.”

What does this mean? If you have erectile dysfunction, get your heart checked for the presence of advanced heart disease. Taking Viagra may work to solve the ED, but your risk of sudden death is higher amongst men with ED and heart disease. Sudden death is often the first sign of heart disease in 70% of men.