Dr. Avnish Jolly:According to Journal of the American College of Cardiology, May 27, 2008, the issues related with maintaining an erection may foretell heart trouble ahead for men with type diabetes. A number of past studies have found close relation with Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and heart disease.
But the latest findings, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, confirm that Erectile Dysfunction often precedes and predicts heart trouble. Researchers, suggests that men with Erectile Dysfunction should be especially vigilant about controlling heart problums risk factors.
Hong Kong researchers found that among diabetic men with no indications of heart related problums at the outset, those with Erectile Dysfunction were 58 percent more likely to die of heart disease, or have a heart attack or other non-fatal cardiac "event." Erectile dysfunction is an important warning sign of future adverse heart events or even death, according to Dr. Peter Chun-Yip Tong, of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Italian researchers also found that among 291 men with type 2 diabetes, those who also had Erectile Dysfunction had twice the risk of suffering a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular complication over the period of time. At the start of the study, all of the men had had evidence of "silent" heart disease — meaning they had plaque buildup in their arteries on imaging tests, but no heart disease symptoms, such as chest pain, nausea etc. Having Erectile Dysfunction seemed to pinpoint those men who were at particular risk of a complication. There was some good news as well, however: Taking cholesterol-lowering statins appeared to reduce the risks associated with Erectile Dysfunction, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Carmine Gazzaruso of the Clinical Institute "Beato Matteo" in Vigevano, Italy.
The main reason according to findings for Erectile Dysfunction is an early manifestation of the blood vessel damage caused by diabetes and other risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure. Cardiologist recommended that all men with diabetes tell their doctor if they begin to have problems getting or maintaining an erection. They can then have a comprehensive assessment of their cardiovascular risk factors — such as measurements of their blood pressure, cholesterol, waist size and kidney function and work on getting those under control under the supervision of family doctor.