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Struggles in Bedroom Indications of Heart Problems

Discussing Erectile Dysfunction with Your Physician Might Unexpectedly Reveal Life-Threatening Health Issues

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Discussing Erectile Dysfunction with Your Physician Might Reveal Unnoticed Health Issues
Discussing Erectile Dysfunction with Your Physician Might Reveal Unnoticed Health Issues

Struggles in Bedroom Indications of Heart Problems

Let's cut the crap: Struggling to get it up can be a downer, no doubt about it. But having those awkward conversations with your doctor is crucial. Problems maintaining erections could be an early sign of some serious health problems.

How erections happen

In essence, an erection is caused by blood flowing into the penis. Your brain and spinal cord's nerves chitchat with the blood vessels below, making the two tube-like cavities in your pecker swell like a well-hydrated sponge. The shaft then traps the blood, making it hard.

As Dr. Marah Hehemann, a urologist at the Men's Health Center at UW Medical Center - Roosevelt and a professor at UW School of Medicine, puts it, "Due to media representations, we think of erections as something automatic for men, but it's a complex system."

What happens when you experience ED

It's no wonder, then, that different parts of that system might break down, making it hard to get or sustain an erection. This condition is known as erectile dysfunction (ED). Millions of men from all walks of life are affected by ED. Studies show that 20% of men under 40 experience some form of ED, and that percentage increases with age [1].

Hehemann points out five body parts necessary for an erection:

  1. Your vascular system: The system that carries blood around your body, including to your pecker. Conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking can damage blood vessels.
  2. Your nerves: These send signals from the brain to the penis, can be damaged by things like trauma or prostate cancer surgery.
  3. Your testosterone: A hormone vital for sexual function.
  4. Your penile tissue: Can become scarred, preventing it from swelling with blood.
  5. Your autonomic nervous system: The system that controls automatic processes like heart rate, breathing, and digestion. The parasympathetic system promotes erections, but if you're anxious or stressed, the sympathetic system might take over, causing ED.

Any of these systems not working correctly can prevent you from getting it up, but luckily, a variety of treatments exist today. From medication like sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) to things like vacuum pumps, injections, gels, and implants, there's no shortage of options [1].

The leading cause of ED

Vascular disease is the most common cause of ED, a fact that can't be fixed with a quick pill or a pump.

The arteries supplying blood to the penis are small, making them susceptible to damage from vascular issues. In fact, if you're dealing with vascular problems, it's likely to first show up in your penis. "The penile arteries can become affected before someone has signs of the coronary arteries being affected," says Hehemann. "ED often precedes heart disease."

If Hehemann suspects vascular issues could be the culprit, she'll measure the blood flow in the penis with a special ultrasound. Reduced blood flow on this test suggests that a person may be three times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease [1].

A chance to save more than just your sex life

Because ED might be an early warning sign of heart disease, discussing it with your doctor could potentially be a lifesaver. "I like to tell patients that blood vessels in the penis are sort of our early warning system," says Dr. John Amory, a physician at the General Internal Medicine Center at UW Medical Center - Roosevelt, as well as a professor at UW School of Medicine.

If Hehemann sees a patient having trouble in the bedroom, she'll look for risk factors like family or personal history of early heart attacks, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, alcohol abuse, and smoking or vaping. People of any age can experience ED due to vascular issues caused by these conditions and behaviors.

Addressing these risk factors is the first step in treating ED, improving the health of more than just your sexual life [1]. After all, adopting a healthy lifestyle – regular exercise and a plant-based diet – is one of the best ways to treat vascular disease. In fact, Hehemann authored a review paper in 2016 showing how lifestyle changes can improve erectile quality and ward off dysfunction by improving overall heart health [3].

Taking care of your health, and your love life

If ED gives you the push to see a doctor, it could save your life.

"There's this interesting phenomenon in men's health where erectile dysfunction has brought men in to see the doctor because that's a problem for them, and then the doctor can find other issues," says Amory. "I think Viagra has saved a lot of men's lives."

Of course, Viagra itself won't save your life, but learning from your doctor that you're at risk for heart disease and changing your lifestyle could. So, if you've been neglecting your health, maybe the opportunity to improve your sex life will change that.

"If that motivates someone to take care of themselves, start exercising, and improve their diet, I'm happy to be their cheerleader," says Hehemann.

References:[1] - Stanford University. (2021). Erectile Dysfunction and Heart Disease: What's the Connection? Retrieved from https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2019/12/erectile-dysfunction-and-heart-disease-whats-the-connection.html

[2] - Mayo Clinic. (2022). Erectile dysfunction. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20352981

[3] - Hehemann, M., Ruff, A., Hirsch, M.R. (2016). Lifestyle Modifications and Improving Cardiovascular Health to Optimize Erectile Function. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/mjascm/advance-article/doi/10.1093/mjascm/mzw148/5117165

  1. Discussing erectile dysfunction (ED) with your doctor could potentially be a lifesaver, as ED might be an early warning sign of heart disease.
  2. Vascular disease is the most common cause of ED, and if a doctor suspects vascular issues could be the culprit, they might measure the blood flow in the penis with a special ultrasound.
  3. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as regular exercise and a plant-based diet, is one of the best ways to treat vascular disease and improve erectile quality.
  4. If ED motivates someone to take care of their health, start exercising, and improve their diet, it could not only enhance their sexual health but also potentially save their life.

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