Men
With Weak Hearts Suffer Letdown in Bed, Too
August 24, 2006
A great number of men with weak hearts find
their performances between the sheets a let
down.
A study found that about a third, or 33.7 per
cent, of patients with coronary artery disease
suffer from severe erectile dysfunction (ED).
A further 56.3 per cent of the patients surveyed
suffer from mild to moderate ED.
"Everybody knows that the older you get,
the less it functions. However, we found that
ED seems to be more prevalent among heart patients,"
said Dr Ramesh Singh Veriah.
The interventional cardiologist at Universiti
Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) led a team of researchers
who studied 510 patients with coronary artery
disease (also called ischaemic heart disease
or IHD) at its cardiology and geriatric clinic.
The study polled men between 36 and 92 years
with surprising results.
"The results indicate that 90.4 per cent
of my patients cannot get an erection or have
trouble doing so. That's terrible," said
Dr Ramesh.
The UMMC, which has a dedicated heart centre,
had decided to embark on the six-month study
as both IHD and ED have similar risk factors.
The study was completed in May.
The risk factors include hypertension, diabetes,
smoking, hyperlipidaemia (high cholesterol),
lack of physical activity, stress and obesity.
IHD is a condition that affects the supply
of blood to the heart which could lead to a
heart attack, while ED is the inability or difficulty
in obtaining and maintaining an erection.
Dr Ramesh said of those surveyed, 58.4 per
cent were diabetic while 64.5 per cent had high
blood pressure. A total of 39.6 per cent had
high cholesterol, 42 per cent were non-smokers
and 40.4 per cent were ex-smokers while the
remaining were still nicotine addicts.
"We also found that ED did not discriminate
by race, but diabetes and high blood pressure
are very significant predictors."
Dr Ramesh said many patients were keen to take
part in the study and those found to be suffering
from ED were eager to seek help.
"Many consider ED
a taboo subject to talk about even with their
doctors but once the taboo is broken, they want
help."
As heart disease is the number one killer in
the world, ED has become a big problem, he added.
Source: http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/629640/men_with_weak_hearts
_suffer_letdown_in_bed_too/index.html?source=r_health |
