Erectile Dysfunction – More important than you know

The link between erectile dysfunction and Heart disease is staggering. There are a huge amount of men who have heart disease and also suffer from impotence. Many men do not know that there is a direct correlation between the two. They have attributed their erectile dysfunction to depression following a heart attack.

Many men have revealed that they actually struggled to achieve an erection 3 years prior to their heart attack. Since they did not want to talk about it and so the connection was missed.

There is evidence that if you have either heart disease or erectile dysfunction, you are likely to get the other. Hypertension, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and physical inactivity are all risk factors in both sexual dysfunction and heart disease.

In a study done in Massachusetts with 1,290 men ranging in age from age 40 to 70 years old. Scientists found that 50% of men in their 50’s and 70% of men in their 70’s had erectile dysfunction. In a more recent Italian study, scientists found that 93% of men with severe heart disease had symptoms of erectile dysfunction at least 24 months before their heart attack or heart disease symptoms.

This shows that erectile dysfunction may be an early indicator of heart disease and heart related issues.

Erectile Physiology

When men are young, they take having and maintaining an erection for granted. But the process of achieving an erection is much more complicated.

This explanation is from the Life Extension Foundation:

Libido (sexual desire) triggers a sympathetic (adrenaline-dependent) nervous system reaction mediated through the thoracic spinal cord. Also important is tactile stimulation, the pleasurable effect of touch, which is mediated through the acetylcholine-dependent parasympathetic nervous system.

Both the sympathetic and parasympathetic forces regulate the release of nitric oxide–the universal artery-relaxing agent–from the cells lining the penile arteries and all its smaller branches.

Nitric oxide causes the arteries to enlarge, increasing blood flow into the penile tissues. This is followed by compression of blood-draining penile veins, which causes blood to engorge the penis and create an erection.

A disruption anywhere along the complex chain of events will impair the capacity to have an erection. Any man who has experienced the frustration of male impotence knows that the consequences extend beyond physical dissatisfaction to anxiety, tension, and embarrassment. A common reason for failure of the erectile apparatus is disruption of the path leading to nitric oxide production and blood flow control.

-LEF.org

The importance of Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide gives blood vessels the ability to dilate (widen) and is crucial for a normal erection.

In healthy arteries that supply the heart, the arteries can enlarge by as much as 50% during exercise. This only occurs if your body is supplying enough nitric oxide. A continual supply of nictric oxide is required for the optimal effect, since nitric oxide only lasts in the human body for a short period of time.

If you do not get enough nitric oxide, endothelial dysfunction begins to occur which can trigger the growth of coronary plaque and heart disease.

Penile circulation works in the same way. If there is not enough nitric oxide present to dilate the penile arteries, it impairs the engorgement necessary to form an erection. The bodies ability to product enough nitric oxide is easily blocked by elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, metabolic syndrome, smoking, diabetes, and too much dietary saturated fats. If the inner wall of the artery can’t produce enough nitric oxide, then the arteries can not dilate (widen) enough causing the blood flow to the penis to be reduced. This makes it harder to get an erection.

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors that indicate a high risk for heart disease. The syndrome includes low HDL (good cholesterol), increased triglycerides, high blood sugar, and an increase in overall inflammation in the body. These symptoms combined make you 3x more likely to have a heart attack, stroke or diabetes.

Metabolic syndrome usually occurs in people that have excess weight, have a poor diet and are inactive. It effects more than 47 million Americans, reduces your levels of testosterone (the primary male sex hormone) and puts you at a higher risk of erectile dysfunction.

A study of 2,400 men with metabolic syndrome showed that 48% had erectile dysfunction.

Erectile Dysfunction – What you should know

Many men who have erectile dysfunction have heart disease or are at risk of developing heart disease. While these 2 conditions seem very different, they both have similar risk factors.

An important underlying cause of erectile dysfunction and heart disease is endothelial dysfunction. This happens when the arteries are not able to expand or widen normally.

Both erectile dysfunction and heart disease have been linked to a decrease in nitric oxide in the blood vessels. Nitric oxide is one of the bodies most powerful vasodilators and is produced in the body by the amino acid L-arginine.

L-arginine, L-carnitine, and pomegranate have been shown to offer benefits for erectile dysfunction and are also beneficial for a healthy heart.

If you suffer from erectile dysfunction, you should consult with your doctor to make sure you do not have the beginning of heart disease.

Tikva has L-arginine, L-carnitine and pomegranate as well as many other ingredients that can help you to improve your heart health as well as increase nitric oxide production.

You can learn more about Tikva at www.medicalpublications.org