Many men suffers from Erectile Dysfunction(ED) due to various reasons but very few are aware about its relationship with heart diseases. Hardening of arteries present in your heart is the root cause of heart attack, stroke and sudden death and the first symptoms of hardened arteries appear in the form of erectile dysfunction. The smaller arteries present in your penis gets affected first due to the hardening of heart arteries which prevents blood flow in your penis resulting in erectile dysfunction. So, if you are facing any kind of difficulties in getting an erection during sex then you are highly advised to see a doctor immediately as it may be an indication for future heart disease.
According to an Australian study, it has been found that almost 95000 men who suffered from erectile dysfunction at the beginning later developed many heart problems like:
- Heart failure
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Other cardiovascular diseases
- Ischemic heart disease
- Stroke
Moreover, people who have a history of heart related problems and also suffer from severe form of ED are more likely to develop severe heart problems, get admitted to hospital due to heart attack or even die due to all of these reasons. On the other hand, people with no history of heart diseases become 35percent more prone to severe heart problems after they develop ED. However, ED is not always a cause of heart problems but both ED and heart diseases share the common blood vessels pathology called as endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, erectile dysfunction can be considered as the biomarker for future heart problems which suggest that you need to check out the health of your heart as soon as you get ED.
Heart check-up due to erectile dysfunction
If you are going to get a heart check-up because you have developed ED recently then make sure your physician do not just check the health of your heart based on the common total cholesterol test because there are many other factors which can also decide the exact status of your heart. So, the following tests are also recommended for a standard heart check-up:
- The HDL and total cholesterol ratio
The percentage of HDL in your body is a very powerful indicator for future heart disease risks.
- The triglyceride and HDL ratio
The standard number for this ratio is 2 and if it turns out any different than this number then you are likely to develop some heart problems very soon.
- The fasting insulin level
Determining the insulin level in your body during fast can also suggest the health of your heart.
- The level of blood sugar during fasting
Reports suggest that high level of fasting blood sugar greatly increases the risk of heart diseases in your body.
