Theerectile dysfunctionis an importantearly marker of coronary risk, since it can give notice up to three years before the appearance of a cardiac pathology, according to the Spanish Heart Foundation (FEC), which together with the Foundation for Research in Urology and the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN) has launched ainformation campaign under the slogan ‘For you, for me, for sex with a heart’, whose purpose is to make the population aware of thelink between cardiovascular disease and sexual health.
Erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease have practically the same risk factors: hypertension, atherosclerosis, obesity, tobacco, drugs, and alcohol. A) Yes,two out of three men with high blood pressure have erectile dysfunction, and more than half of those with erectile dysfunction have high cholesterol, coronary lesions (40% have relevant coronary occlusions) and impaired stress test.
In this sense, according to the national coordinator of the SEMERGEN sexology group, Froilán Sánchez “93% of patients with cardiovascular disease suffered between two and three years before erectile dysfunction“Therefore, erectile dysfunction could predict or alert to many future heart diseases.” This data, “adds Dr. Sánchez,” reveals the extent to which this dysfunction is an important early marker of coronary risk and the development of a future cardiac pathology “.
Froilán Sánchez also highlights the importance of the Primary Care physician in early detection, since “it is common for the first contact of the patient to be established with this medical group and it is essential that they show an open attitude and ask the patient. from the doctor, which often favors the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction and the consequent early detection of heart disease “.
For most of the men surveyed, sex life is important and although42% say they have no problem talking about erectile dysfunction, the rest assure that they would prefer not to have to do it out of shame or modesty (28%) or due to ignorance (17.5%).
