(NaturalNews) A recent study suggests that men who have diabetes and are having erectile dysfunction may have an increased risk of heart disease. It was discovered that diabetic men who had difficulty keeping an erection were twice as likely to develop heart disease as other men with diabetes.
The researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong believe that the root cause of both the erectile problems and the heart disease could be down to blood vessel damage caused by high blood sugar levels. They advise men who have impotency problems to see their doctor, as this appears to be a reliable warning sign of future health problems.
Previous studies have suggested a link between heart disease and erectile dysfunction, as the appearance of sexual problems often precedes the development of heart symptoms in men who have type 2 diabetes by approximately three years.
2,306 men were involved in the study. Just over a quarter already had erectile dysfunction. None of the men had any obvious signs of heart disease, or stroke.
During a period of four years, 123 men had a heart attack, died from heart disease, experienced chest pain due to clogged arteries, or were in need of a heart bypass or cardiac catheterisation. The men with erectile dysfunction were twice as likely to end up in the group who had heart problems than those who did not have sexual problems.
Dr. Peter Chun-Yip Tong who led the study said: “The development of erectile dysfunction should alert both patients and healthcare providers to the future risk of coronary heart disease.”
He has concluded that high blood sugar levels can lead to inflammation on the inner surface of blood vessels — which could lead to atherosclerosis, the hardening and furring up of both heart arteries, and to those supplying blood to the penis.
An Italian study researched 300 men who had both diabetes and were in the early stages of developing heart disease.
Of these men, 118 had erectile problems when the study began, and over the next four years, they were twice as likely to suffer from some sort of cardiac problem such as a heart attack or stroke.
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Sheryl is a kinesiologist, nutritionist and holistic practitioner.
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