Erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are well known to be related with most believing that CVD leads to ED. However current literature shows significant correlation between ED increasing risk for CVD.   This is due to underlying pathology such as endothelial dysfunction leading to reduced blood flow, as well as both conditions sharing numerous risk factors (Shin et al, 2011).

Whilst that’s all very interesting, for the most part individuals suffering from both CVD understand that increasing activity and leading a healthier lifestyle is useful.  However, many individuals with ED do not understand that increasing activity will also help their issues as well.

Interestingly a large proportion of ED’s effects in relation to CVD can be put down to psychological factors.  Individuals often read potential side effects on their medications and immediately worry when they read about potential increased risk of ED. However the effects of medication prescribed for CVD on ED prevalence are largely overestimated and true effects are modest at best (Levine et al, 2012), suggesting that simply believing that medication may lead to ED may actually cause many individuals to experience symptoms.

The increased prevalence of anxiety in CVD is well known and some suggestions have been made that anxiety may increase risk of cardiovascular events in those already diagnosed with CVD (Martens et al, 2010) however research in this area is not entirely conclusive. This may suggest that anxiety associated with the disease may increase ED prevalence and symptoms, with this increased severity further affecting anxiety.

Individuals also experience anxiety when worrying about the possible increased risk of a cardiac event during sexual activity. The reality is that increased risk is only experienced during high intensity exercise (and even then it is still really low), whereas low to moderate intensity results in minimal increased risk of cardiac event.

Depression and insomnia are associated with CVD and may also affect the prevalence and severity of ED (Roose and Seidman, 2000) and better clinical management may reduce prevalence of ED, however this will need to be discussed with your doctor.

So what can you do about it? Firstly, acknowledge that the effect of your medication on ED is most likely overstated and is unlikely to be the dependent variable leading to your ED.  Secondly, be more activate and eat nutritious foods. Last but not least, although understandable difficult, try your best to relax, it’s highly likely that it’s the anxiety may have a major role to play.

To reinforce: good nutrition and an increase in daily activity is likely to lead to huge benefit for anxiety, CVD and ED.

So there you have it. I’m just amazed I got through the whole article without making a rude joke, I guess I was just determined to provide that all important helping hand…. OH, DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!

Jack Barton (Researcher, Rescon Ltd)

References

Levine, G. N., Steinke, E. E., Bakaeen, F. G., Bozkurt, B., Cheitlin, M. D. et al. (2012). Sexual Activity and Cardiovascular Disease A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation, 125(8), 1058-1072.
Martens, E. J., de Jonge, P., Na, B., Cohen, B. E., Lett, H. et al. (2010). Scared to death? Generalized anxiety disorder and cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary heart disease: The Heart and Soul Study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 67(7), 750-758.

Roose, S. P., & Seidman, S. N. (2000). Sexual activity and cardiac risk: is depression a contributing factor?. The American journal of Cardiology, 86(2), 38-40.

Shin, D., Pregenzer Jr, G., & Gardin, J. M. (2011). Erectile dysfunction: a disease marker for cardiovascular disease. Cardiology in Review, 19(1),