Your Erectile Dysfunction Might Be Signaling a Larger Problem

Dealing with an issue like erectile dysfunction (ED) is frustrating to say the least. After all, your sexual health is an important part of your overall wellness, so when things aren’t functioning well, it can seep into other areas of your life.

It might provide some comfort knowing you're not alone as between 30 million and 50 million men in the United States struggle with ED.

Aside from being common, there’s another facet of ED that we want to focus on here: it can be an early warning sign of more serious cardiovascular disease. Given that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, pursuing answers and solutions for your ED is a great idea, especially if it motivates you to get proactive about your heart health.

Since June is Men’s Health Month, our team of primary care providers at Midwest Regional Health Services, which includes men’s health specialists, wants to expand on the link between ED and cardiovascular health. Let’s take a look.

ED and your cardiovascular health

An erection might seem simple enough, but, in reality, it’s a complex process that requires the participation of several systems in your body, including your:

• Brain and nervous system
• Your endocrine system (hormones)
• Your mental and emotional health
• Your cardiovascular system

Since we’re focusing on the vascular piece of the puzzle, we want to explain the connection.

When you’re aroused, your brain sends a signal for more blood to flow into your penis. Upon arrival, this blood fills the spongy chambers called the corpus cavernosa to make your penis erect. Also, muscles at the base of your penis contract to keep the blood trapped, allowing you to maintain the erection.

So, as you can see, blood flow is critical to your ability to get an erection.

Poor blood flow: The leading driver of ED

While ED can be caused by any number of issues, the leading culprit behind this common problem is vascular. More specifically, the problem lies in atherosclerosis, a condition in which fatty plaques in your arteries start to narrow the blood vessels and reduce blood flow.

Atherosclerosis is progressive and the condition doesn’t really have any symptoms in the early stages, so many people are unaware of the issue until it’s fairly advanced and heart disease develops. That said, one possible sign of brewing atherosclerosis is ED.

In fact, studies show that when men present with ED, coronary artery disease (CAD) is detected in almost 70% of cases. And this detection might not have happened so soon if it weren't for the early warning sign in the form of ED.

Getting you back to better health

Our goal in highlighting the connection between ED and your heart health is to stress the importance of having us thoroughly evaluate your ED. Not only will we do so with an eye toward improving your sexual function, we also look out for any issues with your cardiovascular health.

With any cardiovascular issue, it’s no exaggeration to say that early detection (and preventive steps) can set your life on a much healthier path.

So, if you’re struggling with ongoing ED, it’s time to come see us. To get that ball rolling, please contact us at 402-745-1145 to schedule an appointment at our offices in Omaha or Gretna, Nebraska, today.