Lifestyle Changes Improves Erectile Dysfunction

Study Shows Healthy Diet, Exercise, and Weight Control May Help Men With ED

We know that eating a healthy diet that's loaded with fruits and veggies, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a normal weight will help reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke. Now new research shows that these same lifestyle changes may be effective in improving erectile dysfunction (ED).

What's more, erectile dysfunction may be a risk factor for heart disease, often appearing as many as five years before a diagnosis of heart problems.

The study is published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

"The risk factors for narrowing of the heart arteries and erectile dysfunction are really almost exactly the same: lack of exercise, being overweight or obese, diabetes, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and eating a poor diet," says study researcher Stephen L. Kopecky, MD, a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

"You can treat your heart with lifestyle changes, and these same changes will benefit erectile dysfunction," he says.

The new study included 740 men from six studies; their average age was about 55. Lifestyle changes with or without medication such as cholesterol-lowering drugs improved erectile dysfunction and helped lower blood cholesterol levels.

"If a man in their 30s to 50s has erectile dysfunction, he should see the heart doctor and get checked over," Kopeck tells WebMD. "A lot of things will show up even before a stroke or heart attack."

Incentives for a Healthy Lifestyle

Thomas A. Pearson, MD, PhD, MPH, co-authored an editorial that's published with the new study. He is the Albert D. Kaiser Professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York.

"Healthy lifestyles have important benefits on conditions that are especially meaningful to men, such as sexual function," he tells WebMD in an email. "Some men do not seem to be alarmed with unhealthy lifestyles causing heart attack and cancer. The enormous and expensive use of drugs for erectile dysfunction suggests that this might be an important enough issue to motivate them to adopt better lifestyle habits."

It's about reaching men and women where they live, he says. "Often, a man or woman will have a benefit that really engages them [and] the skillful clinician will find that issue and use it to change the person's unhealthy habits into healthy benefits."

Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, an attending cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, drives home the same point: Erectile dysfunction may be a very early indicator for heart disease.

"It is one of the warning signs that says there may a larger problem with the heart," she says. "Diet, exercise, and weight loss will improve the symptoms of erectile dysfunction and lower risk for heart attack and stroke."

This may be enough to get men to make the changes that they need to live longer and healthier lives. "We all want to grow old gracefully and for men, the motivation may be to stay virile," Steinbaum says.

source: webmd

Gums Infection Linked to Erectile Dysfunction

Bad Gums May Cause Erectile Dysfunction

Bad breath and bleeding gums are not sexy.

But periodontitis, an inflammation or infection of the gums, may hamper your sex life in another way: It may be a cause of erectile dysfunction, a new study suggests.

The results showed that periodontitis impaired erectile function in rats.

The findings agree with a previous study that showed periodontitis is more common in men with erectile dysfunction than men without erectile dysfunction.

Dentists and doctors should be made aware of the connection, said the researchers from Luzhou Medical College in China.

"Identifying and treating periodontitis in the patient presenting with or without [erectile dysfunction] may improve the patient’s sexual health," the researchers wrote.

However, others say the link is a bit of a stretch.

"I don’t think your gums are related to your penis in any reasonable way," said Dr. Andrew Kramer, a surgeon and erectile dysfunction expert at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Instead, periodontitis may be an indicator of overall poor health, which increases the risk of erectile dysfunction, Kramer said. Conditions such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes have also been linked with erectile dysfunction.

More research is needed to understand whether inflammatory diseases, which include periodontitis, are a cause of erectile dysfunction, he said.

Gum disease and erectile dysfunction
Periodontitis has been linked with an increased risk of heart disease, and, heart disease has been linked with erectile dysfunction. The researchers wondered whether periodontitis might be directly tied to erectile dysfunction, and how the two might be connected.

They found periodontitis increased inflammation in the rats' bodies. Inflammation is an immune response and can be beneficial when your body is fighting off infection, but chronically high levels are known to be bad for overall health.

Rats with periodontitis also had less of an enzyme involved in achieving an erection, called eNOS. This enzyme produces nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow to the penis.

The inflammation produced by periodontitis may decrease nitric oxide, which then interferes with erection, the researchers said.

Role of inflammation
The study is "one of the first indications that inflammation could have a negative impact on erectile function," said Dr. David Meldrum, an infertility expert and professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, who was not involved in the study.

Earlier studies have found the men with erectile dysfunction have higher levels of certain inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein, in their bodies, Meldrum said.

Another major cause of inflammation is abdominal fat, Meldrum said, which is also a known risk factor for erectile dysfunction.

Inflammation is also thought to play a role in heart disease, so it may be a common factor in periodontitis, heart disease and erectile dysfunction.

More research is needed to see whether treating periodontitis could also treat erectile dysfunction, the researchers said.

The study was published online June 23 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Pass it on: Periodontitis impairs erectile function in animals, but it's not clear if the same thing happens in people.

This story was provided by MyHealthNewsDaily, sister site to LiveScience.

Erectile Dysfunction – New Facts About Its Causes

Erectile dysfunction (ED) (impotence) is a sexual dysfunction where the affected male cannot develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance. ED is a common public health problem. Millions of men worldwide suffer from this condition . An intact neural system and vascular system are required for a successful and complete erection.

Unfortunately our knowledge of the occurrence and etiology of ED is limited. The factors responsible for ED have always acted as sources of controversy. In the past, ED was linked to psychological problems and the normal process of aging. What follows is an gist of facts collected from various studies related to ED:

Age

The incidence of ED increases strongly with age, especially after the age of 60 years. A 100% increase occurs by each one-decade increment in age for 50- to 75-y-old men. The older the men, the higher the reports of ED.

Obesity

Erection occurs due to the entry and retention of blood in sponge-like bodies within the penis. This hydraulic effect is often initiated by sexual arousal. Thus any factor that hampers blood circulation in the penis can cause ED. Obesity is associated with the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and hyperlipidemia. All of these affect the vasculature of the penis and thus increases ones risk of developing ED.

Coffee

The effect of caffeine has been unclear for a while. Some studies have said that it has a protective effect on ED while others branded it as a risk factor. Newer concepts however say that coffee intake does not have an effect on ED.

Alcohol

‘It provokes your desire but takes away the performance’ is what is generally believed about alcohol and ED. However the newer studies have cast its doubts on this and suggests that alcohol consumption may not directly have an effect on the incidence of ED; however if it leads to cirrhosis then the hormonal alterations can surely cause ED.

Smoking

Conflicting findings from various previous studies kept the association between smoking and ED unclear. Impotent men are significantly more likely to be current smokers than men in the general population. Smoking damages the vascular system and thus leading to ED. However current research studies also shows that when the vascular damage is already present in a person, smoking does not give any additional risk. The incidence of ED for past smokers has also been found to be slightly higher than non-smokers.

Smoking results in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and in the long run hampers the mechanisms responsible for bringing erection.

Socioeconomic status

The association between socioeconomic status and ED has not been well established. The effect depends on factors like life-style factors and medical conditions. Higher socioeconomic status has been linked to better health. Though low education is taken as a marker of high prevalence of non-diagnosed diseases, the current studies say that education doesn’t have a significant effect on the incidence of ED.A healthy life style devoid of chronic diseases obviously eliminates ones risk of erectile dysfunction. Forget the controversies and lack of clarity; it would be wise to quit smoking, alcohol, and step out of the fast food culture. Sounds difficult indeed, but genuine efforts will save you from failing when you need it the most!

Source-Medindia

Erectile dysfunction drug cures heart disease

A drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension, has another possible use—helping children and young adults with congenital heart disease to better tolerate exercise, scientists have found.

Researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia show the drug, called Sildenafil, significantly improved measures of exercise performance during stress testing in patients with single-ventricle heart disease,

All patients involved in the study had earlier undergone the Fontan operation, a procedure that redirects systemic venous blood directly to the pulmonary arteries, bypassing the heart.

It is the third operation in a staged series of surgeries for single-ventricle heart defects, life-threatening conditions in which a child is born with severe underdevelopment of one of the pumping chambers of the heart.

source: TOI

Erectile Dysfunction Key Facts And Contraindications

It wasn’t long ago that a discussion about erectile dysfunction was something that only took place in the doctor’s office, if at all. Men were afraid of being perceived as less virile, and the topic was still considered taboo.

All of that changed in the late 1990s, when the blue pill Vi*gra hit the market and its messages began to permeate the national and international airwaves. This did a lot for raising awareness and making men feel more secure in opening up a dialogue on the subject, whether it was with their doctor, their partner, or their friends. As a result, ‘erectile dysfunction’ is a topic of discussion that more men feel safe and secure having today.

Doctors and patients alike have benefitted from this discussion, in large part because the penis serves as the barometer of a man’s overall health, with dysfunction acting as a precursor for other existing or potential health issues. Even mild symptoms of ED can mean that something is amiss in other parts of a man’s body, such as unhealthy glucose and insulin levels or heart problems.

What’s more, maintaining sexual health goes beyond managing other health problems—it supports overall health well into old age.

So, what do men do if they are having problems with sexual performance and what are their options? The good news is that there are a range of options available—men of all ages and health conditions can regain their sexual health.

The real facts
ED is not a disease that affects a mild few. According to the Mayo Clinic, up to 30 million men suffer from erectile dysfunction.

But impaired sexual function is not a standalone problem. As noted above, ED can be an early sign of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other physical ailments. A joint study by Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Schering-Plough and GlaxoSmithKline found that 58 percent of men with diabetes are likely to experience decreased erectile function. In addition, two out of three men with high blood pressure experienced changes in erections, while the risk of ED was found to be nearly two times greater in men with total cholesterol levels above 240 than in men with total cholesterol levels below 180.1

Other Health Conditions and Contraindications
Yes, erectile dysfunction can be a barometer of men’s overall health and is heavily associated with conditions like heart disease and diabetes. But, oftentimes, ED is associated with these conditions not only because of the systemic health issues that they present, but also because of the other medications that are prescribed to them to treat their conditions.

Cancer. There are two types of cancer most likely to be associated with ED: prostate and rectal cancer. However, ED is more likely to be a result of the treatments for these cancers rather than the diseases themselves.

Prostate cancer patients, in particular, should be aware that erectile dysfunction is a common residual side effect of related cancer treatments. Because the nerves that support the penis run through the prostate, any surgery or radiation that effects the prostate is likely to effect the penis, no matter how “nerve sparing” the treatment. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, about 50% of prostate cancer patients who undergo external beam radiation experience ED for up to two years. It becomes imperative that, after such treatments for the prostate, the patient is placed on an ED treatment program as soon as possible; delaying such treatments may further result in the worsening of ED through disuse atrophy. As the old saying goes, “use it or lose it!”

Heart Disease. Impaired sexual function can be an early sign of cardiovascular disease. Industry experts cite damaged or clogged arteries as a possible cause of both ailments, meaning that the very same impaired blood vessels that aren’t feeding your heart are also preventing your ability to have a healthy erection.

And to add insult to injury, the blood pressure and cholesterol medications that are often prescribed to men with heart conditions and diabetes often mean that oral ED medications (like Viagra or Cialis) are either rendered useless, or are dangerous for men with these systemic disorders.

Diabetes. Diabetes affects the penis several ways, including narrowing or hardening the penile blood vessels, lowering testosterone levels and causing damage to penile nerves. Also, blood sugar level imbalances can prevent men from producing enough nitric oxide, which is needed to maintain an erection. If not treated, diabetes can result in permanent damage to the penis. As a result, many doctors urge patients to seek immediate medical attention to both improve ongoing sexual virility and to get tested for related disorders such as heart disease.

Traditional solutions and their drawbacks
So, what are the treatment options for men with ED, and what are patients to do if existing conditions and medications preclude them from taking common oral medications for their erectile dysfunction?

Men with health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer and kidney or liver problems often find erectile dysfunction to be an upsetting side effect. Yet, because these diseases pose health risks to circulation, hormones and the nervous system, men with these diagnoses frequently can’t treat their ED with oral medications. Oral treatments don’t merely affect the sexual organs; they can affect all the systems of the body and potentially produce dangerous side effects. These side effects range from disruption of blood flow to important organs to vision problems and hearing loss. What’s more, a dangerous drop in blood pressure may result for men taking heart medications that contain nitrates.

As a result, Viagra and other oral medications aren’t always safe for many of the very same men who require it and, even when they are safe, they often don’t work at all. For instance, Viagra is found to be ineffective 40 percent of the time in men with diabetes (as compared to up to 85 percent effective for the general population)2.

Imitation oral medications are also on the rise and people who spend money on Viagra may not realize that the product they are buying is not authentic. Bolstered by the success of Viagra, this dubious industry has grown considerably, and is estimated to take in revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars a year.3

At the other end of the spectrum is penile implant surgery, which comes with its own set of risks. During the procedure, a mechanical device is implanted under surgery that can give the patient an erection on demand. Not everyone is an appropriate candidate for this procedure due to overall health, age, and medications they are taking. Risks include post-operative complications such as infections, damage to surrounding tissues and nerves, and even deathly reactions to anesthesia.

But this is not where the story ends. There are alternatives that fill the gap between convenient oral medications and invasive surgery. All men, no matter what their overall health conditions, can and should have a healthy sex life.

Other options
For many men, oral medications are a viable treatment option, but in others they may not be effective or can pose dangerous health risks. For these men, there are treatment options available that are personalized and safe, without the harmful side effects that are associated with traditional or alternative medications.

These alternatives include intracavernous pharmocotherapy (ICP)—a painless injection of a combination of FDA-approved vasodilators into the spongy tissue of the penis using an auto-applicator. ICP fills the gap between oral medicines and surgery, bringing men both the convenience of an immediate solution, and the safety of a localized treatment option. It is minimally invasive and effective in producing consistent erections. And, as a localized treatment, there is little concern about its effects on the rest of the body, no risk to other health conditions and a low likelihood of contraindication. ICP addresses the source of the problem directly and can be very effective.

Other alternatives include intraurethral suppository (a vasodilator known as Alprostadil, or Prostaglandine E1), prepared in the form of a pellet that is inserted into the urethra via an applicator; and vacuum suction devices (a battery or manually-operated cylindrical pump which fully encloses the penis).

Scores of men have found success with a variety of ED treatments, and treatments are definitely not one-size-fits all.

Conclusion
There is a great deal of consumer confusion around ED treatments and options today. It’s important that men understand all their options and the benefits and side effects of each avenue.

Remember, ED may be just one symptom of other health issues in the male body and, to understand all underlying health problems, doctors should take the time to ensure that their patients understand their medical conditions and present various treatment options before encouraging patients to embrace any specific remedy.

Patients with ED don’t have to suffer in silence. With the proper diagnosis and treatment, men of all ages and health conditions can have a healthy sex life.

source: healthnewsdigest

Men with ED are more likely to suffer heart problems

Individuals suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) may also want to consider getting a cholesterol test, as recent studies have shown a link between ED and coronary artery disease.

Research showed that ED is a common precursor for heart disease, and that men with impotency will often experience heart problems within 3 to 5 years of developing the condition.

Due to this research, doctors around the world are encouraging men with these problems to have their heart health examined to help avoid possibly preventable problems.

Dr Graham Jackson, a cardiologist who participated in an international council that recommended heart testing, said that the process that leads to ED may be the same as the one leading to more serious heart conditions.

"It has been suggested that because the arteries supplying the penis are smaller than those supplying the heart, they will be affected by reduced blood flow - a major cause of ED - before the symptoms of coronary artery disease develop," he said.

The council cited studies that suggest men with ED are up to 60 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack.

source: privatemdlabs

Can cell phone in pocket, will cause erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction depends on the exposure of the individual. There are certain studies that shows exposure to cellular phone most especially who pocket has an dramatic effect on the sperm counts.

They attribute this to the electromagnetic effects or radiation the device emit. But still in the process of study to identify the mechanism involved in the significant reduction of sperms count. Erectile dysfunction is caused by physical problems such as injury and poor blood supply to the penis.

They also link erectile dysfunction to other health problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and hardening of vessels. There are ways to treat erectile dysfunction, and the first that one should do is a change of lifestyles by not smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating a well balanced diet. There are also medicines causing dysfunction.

If you have a sexual partner, you can talk it over on ways to make love and make things sensual.There are suggested medicine that can be taken including talafil and vardenafil. To be safe of getting erectile dysfunction, it would be better to take the cellular phone away in our pocket near the groin.

source: mdinfo

Impotence is 85 Percent Higher in Male Smokers Than Non-Smokers

Compared to non smokers impotence is approximately 85% higher in male smokers and it is a key to erectile dysfunction (ED).

Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of the plant of genus Necotiana .In consumption it is mostly used in the form of smoking, chewing, snuffing or dipping.

The use of tobacco is an activity that is practiced by some 1.1 billion people worldwide.

According to research, tobacco leads to diseases of the lungs, hearts and even early heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive and pulmonary diseases, particularly lung cancer, cancers of larynx and mouth.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), estimates that tobacco causes 5.4 million deaths per year and 100 million year over the cause of 20th century.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describe tobacco as ?the single most preventable risk to human health in developed countries' and an important cause of pre-mature death worldwide.

Tobacco also contains nicotine, which is highly addictive, psychoactive chemical; when nicotine is smoked over a long period it creates physical and psychological dependency.

Tobacco is a significant factor in miscarriages among pregnant smokers; it contributes to a number of other threats of health of the foetus such as pre-mature births and low birth rates and increases by 1.4 times the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Scientific study done in neonatal rats seems to indicate that exposure to cigarette smoking in the womb may reduce fatal brain's ability to recognize hypoxic condition, thus increasing the chance of accidental asphyxiation.

As of the year 2000, smoking was practiced by 1.22 billion people, and it has been predicted that 1.45 billion will smoke in 2010 and from 1.5 to 1.9 billion in 2025.

The WHO in 2004 projected 58.8 million deaths to occur globally from which 5.4 million are tobacco attributed and 4.9 million as of 2007,70% of deaths are the in the developing countries.

Smoke or any partially burnt organic matter is carcinogenic(cancer causing),the damage a continuing smoker does to his/her lungs can take up to 20 years before its physical manifestation in lung cancer.Male and female smokers lose an average of 13.2 and 14.5 years of life respectively.

Second hand smoking is a mixture of smoke from the burning ends of a cigarette, pipes or cigar and the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers, it is involuntarily exhaled , lingers in the air hours after cigarettes have been extinguished.

source: allafrica

Chemicals In Plastics Bottles, Containers Linked to Erectile Dysfunction Risk

Men who are exposed to high levels of BPA at work may have an increased risk of erectile dysfunction, according to results of a five-year study. This is the first research study to evaluate the impact of BPA on the male reproductive system in humans.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical made in the production of polycarbonated plastics and epoxy resins that are found in baby bottles, plastic containers, the lining of food and beverage cans, in dental sealants, and in other everyday products. Increasing concern about the health implications of exposure to this chemical has resulted in BPA no longer being used in certain products by some manufacturers.

Previous studies have shown that BPA has an effect on the male and possibly the female reproductive system in laboratory animals, including erectile dysfunction, reduced testosterone levels, and reduction in sexual desire. In a 2007 review study at the Columbia Environmental Research Center in Missouri, the investigators concluded that “adult exposure to BPA affects the male reproductive tract” and that the chemical also affected the brain.

This newest study, conducted by Kaiser Permanente and funded by the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA), examined 634 factory workers in China. The investigators compared 230 workers who were exposed to high levels of BPA in their positions as packagers, technical supervisors, lab technicians, and maintenance workers, with a control group of 404 factory workers who had no exposure to BPA on the job. BPA levels were measured by conducting spot air sampling, personal air sample monitoring, review of factory records, and through interviews with factory workers about hygiene habits, use of protective equipment, and their exposure to other toxins.

In-person interviews with the workers regarding erectile function, ejaculation capability, sexual desire, and overall satisfaction with their sex life showed that the men who were exposed to BPA had a nearly fourfold increased risk of reduced sexual desire and overall satisfaction with their sex life, greater than fourfold increased risk of erection difficulty, and more than a sevenfold increased risk of difficulty with ejaculation.

The levels of BPA the workers were exposed to is about 50 times greater than what the average American male can expect in the United States. However, the investigators note that more research is needed to answer the question: Is there a safe level for BPA exposure? Because many experts believe BPA can disrupt the endocrine system, and thus likely impact both the male and female reproductive systems, the need for more research is apparent. This study was the first of several that the authors plan to conduct to examine the impact of BPA in humans.

SOURCES:
Li D et al. Human Reproduction 2009 Nov; online
Moon DG et al. International Journal of Ipotence Research 2001 Oct; 13(5): 309-16
Richter CA et al. Reproductive Toxicology 2007 Aug-Sep; 24(2): 199-224