Australian researchers wrote in a paper published Tuesday in the journal PLoS Medicine that, based on their study, even minor problems with erections mean that a man is at greater risk for heart problems and premature death. The team looked at questionnaire data on health and lifestyle habits from 2006-2009 for 95,038 men that participated in Australias 45 and Up Study, and connected it to national data on hospital admissions and deaths up to December 2010. Among the study group, there were 7,855 hospital admissions for cardiovascular complaints and 2,304 deaths. Once they ran the numbers, the researchers found that "the risks of future heart disease and premature death increased steadily with severity of erectile dysfunction, both in men with and without a history of cardiovascular disease," lead author Emily Banks said in a statement Tuesday. Around one in five men age 40 or above suffer from either moderate or severe erectile dysfunction, according to the researchers. "These results tell us that every man who is suffering from any degree of erectile dysfunction should be seeking medical assistance as early as possible and also insisting on a heart health check by their [doctor] at the same time," coauthor and Heart … Continue reading →

Erectile dysfunction might signal more than a need for the little purple pill, researchers said Tuesday in a study showing a link with heart disease and early death. The Australian study -- the world's largest investigating links between erection problems and heart disease -- suggested erection problems could act as a warning sign of more serious health issues. "The risks of future heart disease and premature death increased steadily with severity of erectile dysfunction," whether or not there was a history of cardiovascular disease, study director Emily Banks said. Previous studies had found ties between severe erection problems and heart attacks and strokes, but this study was the first to also include mild and moderately severe erection problems. "These results tell us that every man who is suffering from any degree of erectile dysfunction should be seeking medical assistance as early as possible and also insisting on a heart health check by their GP at the same time," said Rob Grenfell, Cardiovascular Health director at Australia's Heart Foundation. The study, published this week in the "PLOS Medicine" journal, followed 95,000 men aged 45 and older for two to three years. The men responded to a survey on their health and … Continue reading →

By Rachael Rettner MyHealthNewsDaily The more severe a man's erectile dysfunction is, the greater his risk of being hospitalized for heart problems, a new Australian study finds. Among men in the study who had no history of heart disease, those with moderate erectile dysfunction (ED) were 23 percent more likely to be hospitalized for a cardiovascular problem, such as a heart attack, during a two-year period compared to men who did not have ED. And those with severe ED were 35 percent more likely to be hospitalized for cardiovascular problems than those without ED. Men who already had heart problems and severe erectile dysfunction at the study's start were 64 percent more likely to be hospitalized for another heart problem during the study period compared to men without ED. The results held even after the researchers accounted for factors that might increase the risk of heart problems, such as age, smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity. The findings agree with previous studies that have linked erectile dysfunction to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. [See For Men, Sex Life Gets Better with Improved Heart Health.] But the new study is one of the first to investigate whether or not the risk … Continue reading →

The more severe a man's erectile dysfunction is, the greater his risk of being hospitalized for heart problems, a new Australian study finds. Among men in the study who had no history of heart disease, those with moderate erectile dysfunction (ED) were 23 percent more likely to be hospitalized for a cardiovascular problem, such as a heart attack, during a two-year period compared to men who did not have ED. And those with severe ED were 35 percent more likely to be hospitalized for cardiovascular problems than those without ED. Men who already had heart problems and severe erectile dysfunction at the study's start were 64 percent more likely to be hospitalized for another heart problem during the study period compared to men without ED. The results held even after the researchers accounted for factors that might increase the risk of heart problems, such as age, smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity. The findings agree with previous studies that have linked erectile dysfunction to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. [See For Men, Sex Life Gets Better with Improved Heart Health.] But the new study is one of the first to investigate whether or not the risk of heart problems increases … Continue reading →