Erectile dysfunction
- 1. ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION: SILENT MARKER OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE INTRODUCTION Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a serious health problem these days which is prevalent in men. It is reported that 1 in 10 adult men suffer from erectile dysfunction. It originates due to various reasons such as stress, depression, hormonal deficiency, etc. Under severe conditions, erectile dysfunction causes many health co-morbidities. In some cases, it has been seen that erectile dysfunction is one of the indicator of other health consequences such as endothelial dysfunction. Recent studies suggest that there is a very strong link between erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease (CAD). Due to this, doctors should look more closely at the overall health of erectile deficient men to check if it is an outcome of some other disease. LINK BETWEEN ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION AND CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE It is known that the coronary artery disease is a heart disease in which the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscles become hardened & narrowed. This causes the disturbance in blood flow in the entire body. This occurs due to many causes such as the building-up of cholesterol or fat inside the inner walls of the blood vessels known as atherosclerosis. Erection mechanism of the penis involves the extra blood flow towards the muscles of the penis. When CAD disrupts the ability of blood to flow freely, it also causes the disturbance in the blood flow towards penis. As a result, erectile dysfunction originates. Thus, CAD is one of the causes of erectile dysfunction. In turn, erectile dysfunction can be regarded as one of the symptoms of CAD.
- 2. RISK FACTORS OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION AND CAD As it has been told that erectile dysfunction & CAD share a common disease process, it should also be known that they also share many risk factors. These involve: High blood pressure: When the blood pressure is high for an extended time, it can damage the lining of the arteries and interfere with the blood flow. This causes both CAD and erectile dysfunction due to disturbance in blood flow. It is also reported that certain high blood pressure medications such as thiazide diuretics also cause erectile dysfunction. High blood cholesterol: low density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol can also damage the arteries. The buildup of this cholesterol in the arteries can clog them and restrict the blood flow. This can contribute to erectile dysfunction, as well as CAD. Diabetes: People with diabetes are at higher risk of heart disease. They’re also more likely to develop ED than people without diabetes. Obesity: Excess body weight and fat can worsen the condition of CAD and erectile dysfunction due to the condition of atherosclerosis. Depression: Depression has been linked to both ED and heart disease. According to a research study, men with sexual dysfunction and severe symptoms of depression may have a higher risk of cardiovascular events. Smoking: Smoking damages the arteries and increases the risk of atherosclerosis. Tobacco use has also been linked to erectile dysfunction. TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION CAUSED BY HEART DISEASE
- 3. If any man has erectile dysfunction originated from coronary artery disease, then, he should opt for following treatment plans. Some of them can trigger directly coronary artery disease to treat the whole scenario and some can treat or prevent erectile dysfunction stopping the further prevalence of coronary artery disease. These treatment plans are: Lifestyle changes Exercise is recommended as part of a healthy lifestyle and helps to manage chronic diseases. Researchers recommended that daily aerobic exercise should be at least 30 minutes and that men should burn, on average, a minimum of 300 to 500 kcal to achieve the benefits of exercise for erectile dysfunction. Dietary interventions to improve erectile dysfunction originated from coronary artery disease involves eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables, limiting intake of refined sugars and processed foods, consuming more whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, replacing butter with healthful fats such as olive oil, decreasing sodium intake by using more herbs and spices and limiting red meat consumption. The suggested mechanisms by which weight loss, healthy diet and physical exercise can improve erectile function include the improvement of endothelial dysfunction, insulin-resistance and low-grade inflammatory state associated with diabetes and metabolic diseases – all of which are risk factors for ED. The resulting improved inflammatory status may help contribute to reduce the burden of sexual dysfunction in men. Stop smoking & drinking alcohol Both the direct use of tobacco and second-hand exposure seem a consolidated risk factor for ED. The moderate consumption of alcohol may exert a protective effect on ED in both the general population and in diabetic men. When the alcohol intake becomes excess then, it causes revers e effect on the body causing depressed mood and low libido increasing erectile dysfunction. Clinical implications
- 4. o Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors: They are very effective for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in patients with CAD. Numerous studies have shown that this class of drugs is safe in patients with stable CAD. Other drugs which can be beneficial include angiotensin and statins, etc. o Androgens: Men who present with diminished libido and erectile dysfunction may be found to have low serum testosterone levels. Hormone administration may benefit men with severe hypogonadism and may be useful as adjunctive therapy when other treatments are unsuccessful by themselves. Libido and an overall sense of well-being are likely to improve when serum testosterone levels are restored to the reference range. o Supplements: Beside medications, it has been seen that food supplements or herbal supplements have been shown to improve the condition of erectile dysfunction in men. These involve Korean Red Ginseng, L-Citruline/L-Arginine, Yohimbe, etc. One such herbal supplement originated from fenugreek seed extract, Chemforce is an innovative product rich in protodioscin, which plays significant role in maintaining and improving testosterone levels, which further contributes in muscle mass building and safe sports supplement. It’s a unique blend of highly powerful ingredients, Furosap® which is a patent protected and clinically evaluated fenugreek seed extract and Alpha Yohimbine which is a known aphrodisiac. Furosap® has been proven safe and effective for maintaining overall energy and vitality in men. Angioplasty: Balloon angioplasty has been studied as treatment for erectile dysfunction in men with focal atherosclerotic narrowing of the penile artery.
- 5. REFERENCES http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/in-depth/erectile-dysfunction/art- 20045141?pg=1 http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/504834 http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/heart-disease-and-erectile-dysfunction https://medlineplus.gov/coronaryarterydisease.html http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/444220-treatment#d9 http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/040715p44.shtml https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4291878/ https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02702882