Is your other half experiencing some difficulties in the bedroom? If so, make sure his ego doesn't get in the way of getting a professional opinion on the causes of erectile dysfunction.
Why? Well, because the latest studies show that men who suffer from it are 70 per cent more likely to die early than those who do not.
The reason for this eye-opening statistic is the link between ED, the repeated inability to get or to keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse, and cardiovascular health. While many believe ED is simply a part of getting older, the fact is it's always caused by a physical or psychological problem.
While the psychological causes can include stress and anxiety, the physical causes could include cardiovascular disease, which makes it difficult for the heart to deliver the necessary amount of blood to the organs of the body, including the penis. Since erections are dependent on an adequate amount of blood flow to the penis, men with this type of disease may experience erectile dysfunction.
According to the Irish Heart Foundation, another common type of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis, usually caused by a raised cholesterol level. This is a condition which narrows or hardens arteries all over the body. As arteries in the pelvis and penis are also affected, erection difficulties may often be one of the first signs of a more serious problem.
The latest study of 1,790 adult men aged between 20 and 85-years-old (published in the Journal of Sex Medicine) found that men who suffered from erectile dysfunction had significantly higher rates of serious disease than those who never experienced the issue.
Worried? Read up on ED and get help here.
