Protecting Heart May Improve Erectile Dysfunction

Cardiac drugs, lifestyle changes improve sexual function in men with ED, study shows

TUESDAY, Sept. 13 (HealthDay News) -- The lifestyle changes and medications used to reduce risk factors for heart disease may also improve sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction, according to a new study.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., analyzed six previous studies from four countries involving 740 men to determine how lifestyle changes and drugs used to treat risk factors for heart disease affected the severity of their erectile dysfunction (ED).

Each study reviewed reported improvements in men's erectile dysfunction as a result of lifestyle changes and better blood lipid levels. Heart disease and ED share certain controllable risk factors, such as high blood pressure, smoking, obesity and lack of physical activity, the researchers explained.

Moreover, erectile dysfunction appears to be an indicator of heart disease, the researchers said. "Men with ED provide an opportunity to identify CV risk factors and initiate lifestyle changes," the authors wrote.

The study, published online Sept. 12 in Archives of Internal Medicine, concluded that when cardiac risk factors improved, so did sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction. When either drugs or lifestyle changes to combat heart disease were considered alone, the benefits to the men's sexual function was still significant, the researchers noted in a journal news release.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides more information on heart disease risk factors.

Mary Elizabeth Dallas SOURCE: JAMA/Archives, news release, Sept. 12, 2011

Related Articles

Learn More About Sharp
Sharp HealthCare is San Diego's health care leader with seven hospitals, two medical groups and a health plan. Learn more about our San Diego hospitals, choose a Sharp-affiliated San Diego doctor or browse our comprehensive medical services.

Health News is provided as a service to Sharp Web site users by HealthDay. Sharp HealthCare nor its employees, agents, or contractors, review, control, or take responsibility for the content of these articles. Please read the Terms of Use for more information.